title: Hyperlipidemia in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Saudi Arabia. Correlation with C-reactive protein levels and disease activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in patients from Saudi Arabia with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to investigate its relationship with C-reactive protein level and disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional 3-year study was conducted on RA patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia between January 2011 and December 2013. Lipid profiles were determined following 12-hour overnight fasting, and the association of lipid profiles with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and disease activity was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study involved a total of 180 RA patients (mean age: 40.49±12.19 years). These subjects displayed a high prevalence of elevated total cholesterol (55.1%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (51.2%). Notably, we detected a significant association between increased total cholesterol and high CRP levels (p=0.002). Moreover, we observed a positive correlation between total cholesterol and disease activity, as measured using the 28-Joint Disease Activity Score index (r=0.23, p=0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperlipidemia is common among RA patients and is significantly associated with CRP levels and disease activity. Our findings emphasize the need to raise awareness among healthcare professionals regarding the development of hyperlipidemia when RA is active.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail. suzan_attar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Suzan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Attar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol