Association between Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity and Comorbidities

Background and objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition marked by chronic joint inflammation, frequently resulting in substantial impairment and diminished quality of life. However, rheumatoid arthritis rarely occurs in isolation, as individuals with this condition frequently present with comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Understanding the role of comorbidities in Rheumatoid Arthritis is critical for comprehensive patient care. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of various comorbidities on disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Patient data for this cross-sectional study was collected at rheumatology outpatient of Rizgary teaching hospital in Erbil city of Kurdistan-Iraq from August 2022 August 2023. Study participants included patients with rheumatoid arthritis with (n=60) and without (n=60) comorbidities and they were matched for age and sex. Results: Our findings revealed that among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension is the most frequent comorbidity, affecting 27 patients (45%) of them. This is followed by the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in 9 (15%) of cases, and hypothyroidism in 8 (13.3%) of cases. Furthermore, the study establishes a strong and statistically significant link between patient age and the presence of comorbidities (p<0.001). Additionally, it demonstrates a significant correlation between the high activity of RA disease and comorbidities (p=0.03). Conclusions: This research is providing insights into the ways in which these accompanying medical conditions affect the activity of rheumatoid arthritis. The results of this current study have important implications for making treatment choices, assessing risks, and crafting customized approaches to managing this disease.