title: Frequency of metabolic syndrome in Pakistani cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: To determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis patients and its association with different factors i.e., age, gender, disease duration and treatment.
  
  
  
  The cross-sectional study was conducted at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from July 2014 to June 2015, and comprised consecutive rheumatoid arthritis of either gender between the ages of 20 and 60 years. Frequency of metabolic syndrome was assessed by the National Education Cholesterol Programme 2004. SPSS 22 was used to compare the frequency of the syndrome among different treatment, age and gender groups.
  
  
  
  Of the 384 patients, 287(74.7%) were females, and 97(25.3%) were males with an overall mean age of 43.8±10.6 years (range: 20-60 years). Overall, 173(45.0%) patients were in >45years of age, and metabolic syndrome was found in 120 (31.3%). A negative association with metabolic syndrome was found when compared with treatment group of methotrexate alone and methotrexate in combination (p>0.05).
  
  
  
  Metabolic syndrome, an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, was more prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zafar Ali
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tafazzul H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aflak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasheed
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abrar Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wagan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008727:Methotrexate; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Metabolic syndrome, Cardiovascular, Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, Methotrexate.