Cardiovascular risk assessment according to a national calibrated score risk index in psoriatic arthritis patients without clinically evident cardiovascular disease or classic atherosclerosis risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To assess cardiovascular (CV) risk in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients without clinically evident CV disease or classic atherosclerosis risk factors according to the SCORE chart following the EULAR recommendations.


METHODS
Eighty PsA patients without previous CV events or atherosclerosis risk factors and eighty matched controls were included. Information on demographic, anthropometric and clinical-serological data of disease was assessed. The national calibrated Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) index was calculated and the association between this SCORE and clinical-serological data of these patients was analyzed.


RESULTS
PsA patients had higher acute phase reactants as well as higher SCORE mean values than healthy controls (1.99±3.52 vs. 1.0±1.74; P=0.028). According to SCORE definitions, 71 (89%) patients had low-intermediate CV risk and 9 (11%) were above the threshold of high risk. In the control group, 76 (95%) had low-intermediate risk and four (5%) had high CV risk. However, there were no differences in CV risk stratification between both groups (P=0.148). PsA patients with high-very high CV risk had longer disease duration (P=0.001) and higher levels of triglycerides (P=0.009). PsA patients showed a significant correlation between SCORE values and disease duration (β=0.185; P=0.0001) and the average annual levels of C reactive protein (CRPa), β=2.38; P=0.014.


CONCLUSIONS
CV risk assessment in PsA patients without clinically evident CV disease or classic atherosclerosis risk factors may be underestimated by using only the SCORE chart. In these patients, disease duration and the CRPa may help to establish a better stratification of the actual CV risk.
Rheumatology Division, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain. Electronic address: Jose_rosales37@hotmail.com.
José Luis
JL
Rosales Alexander
Rheumatology Division, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain.
Jesús
J
Cantero-Hinojosa
Rheumatology Division, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain.
Juan
J
Salvatierra
Rheumatology Division, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain.
César
C
Magro Checa
Rheumatology Division, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IFIMAV, Santander, Spain.
Miguel Ángel
MÁ
González-Gay
Rheumatology Division, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain.
Enrique
E
Raya Álvarez
D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
Cardiovascular events; Cardiovascular risk; EULAR task force recommendations; Psoriatic arthritis; SCORE