Carotid intima media thickness in rheumatoid arthritis as compared to control subjects: a meta-analysis

A.M. van Sijl, M.J.L. Peters, D.L. Knol, H.C.W. de Vet, M.A. Gonzalez-Gay, Y.M. Smulders, B.A.C. Dijkmans, M.T. Nurmohamed

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) is frequently used to identify populations at elevated cardiovascular risk. A systematic literature search and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate cIMT difference between RA and controls. Methods: The literature was screened to identify all available studies comparing cIMT in RA patients and controls. Random effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the overall mean cIMT difference between both groups. Meta-regression was performed to assess the influence of age and the degree of comparability regarding established cardiovascular risk factors on cIMT difference. Potential publication bias was examined by a funnel plot and Egger test. Results: From 22 studies, cIMT data were available from 1384 RA patients and 1147 controls. In 17 of the studies, RA patients had a statistically significantly greater cIMT. The overall mean cIMT difference was 0.09 mm (95%CI: 0.07-0.11 mm). Heterogeneity was observed (I
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)389-397
    JournalSeminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
    Volume40
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011

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