A Study of Lipid Profile in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), partly due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Dyslipidemia and systemic inflammation in RA patients may contribute to this risk. This study aims to evaluate the lipid profile in RA patients and its correlation with disease activity and subclinical atherosclerosis, assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Methods: Fifty-four RA patients aged over 18 years, fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism criteria, were enrolled. Patients with conditions affecting lipid metabolism or cardiovascular status were excluded. Clinical assessments included the Disease Activity Score using 28 joints (DAS28). Fasting lipid profiles were measured, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and triglycerides (TG). CIMT was measured using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Correlations between lipid parameters, DAS28 scores, and CIMT were analyzed. Results: The study population had a mean age of [mean ± SD years], with a female predominance. Elevated DAS28 scores indicated moderate to high disease activity. Lipid profile analysis showed that RA patients had decreased HDL-C levels and altered TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios. Significant inverse correlations were found between HDL-C levels and DAS28 scores (p < 0.05). CIMT measurements revealed that a substantial proportion of patients had increased CIMT (>0.8 mm), indicative of subclinical atherosclerosis. CIMT positively correlated with DAS28 scores and negatively with HDL-C levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: RA patients exhibit dyslipidemia characterized by reduced HDL-C levels, which correlates with increased disease activity and subclinical atherosclerosis. The findings underscore the importance of regular lipid monitoring and cardiovascular risk assessment in RA patients. Early intervention targeting lipid abnormalities and inflammation may help reduce the risk of CVD in this population.