title: Is the prevalence of arterial hypertension in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis associated with disease?
abstract: In this study, we compare the prevalence of arterial hypertension (HT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients, exposed to high- and low-grade chronic inflammation, respectively, to assess the possible association between chronic inflammation and HT. A total of consecutive 627 RA and 352 OA patients were enrolled in this multicentric study. HT was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140 and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or current use of any antihypertensive drug. Overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25, and patients ≥65 years were considered elderly. The prevalence of HT was higher in the OA group than in the RA group [73.3 % (95 % CI, 68.4, 77.7) and 59.5 % (95 % CI, 55.6, 68.4) P < 0.001, respectively]. When the results were adjusted for age and BMI, the HT prevalence was similar in both groups [RA 59 % (95 % CI, 55.1, 63.8) OA 60 % (95 % CI, 58.4, 65.0)]. In both groups, the prevalence of HT was higher in the elderly and those who were overweight than in the younger patients and those with a BMI < 25. Overweight (BMI ≥ 25) and age ≥65 were independent predictors of HT in multivariate logistic regression model, which showed no association between HT and the disease (RA or OA). The results indicate a robust association of age and BMI with HT prevalence in both RA and OA. The difference in HT prevalence between RA and OA is due rather to age and BMI than to the features of the disease, putting into question specific association of HT with RA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dubrava University Hospital, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Av. G. Šuška 6, 10 040 Zagreb, Croatia. jmorovic@kbd.hr
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morović-Vergles
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salamon
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marasović-Krstulović
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kehler
authors.forename: Davorin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sakić
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Badovinac
authors.forename: Tonko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vlak
authors.forename: Srđan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Nives
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stiglić-Rogoznica
authors.forename: Marino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanih
authors.forename: Dražen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bedeković
authors.forename: Simeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grazio
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadojić
authors.forename: Jasminka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milas-Ahić
authors.forename: Višnja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prus
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stamenković
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sošo
authors.forename: Branimir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anić
authors.forename: Durđica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Babić-Naglić
authors.forename: Stjepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gamulin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents