Association of extra-articular manifestations with disease activity and clinical parameters in rheumatoid arthritis

This study aimed to determine the extra-articular manifestations related to all systems in rheumatoid arthritis patients, to reveal their frequency, to determine the differences in the effect levels of the involved systems on the patients and to determine the relationship of these findings with disease activity, clinic parameters and treatment strategies. Which extra-articular manifestations will be investigated and how disease activity evaluated were determined before the study. 402 rheumatoid arhtritis patients who applied to Gazi University Hospital Rheumatology Department were included in the study. All clinical, laboratory and radiological evaluations of the patients were performed. Extraarticular manifestations detected in at least one system in 275 patients. Iflammatory markers and disease activity were found to be higher in patients with extraarticular manifestations. However, it was observed that these patients were more affected by the standardized patient-oriented scales. Obtained results were evaluated with appropriate statistical methods. Odds ratios were calculated by performing logistic regression analysis of all factors affecting extraarticular involvement. Although is different for each system, when all manifestations are evaluated together, advancing age (Odds, 3,79; Confidence interval, 2,41-5,94: p<0.,001) and increasing disease durations (Odds, 1,62; Confidence interval, 1,04-2,54: p=0,033) were found to be independent risk factors for extra-articular involvement. Fort this reason, in patient with extra-articular manifestations, disease management should be done more carefully from the early stages and the disease burden should be reduced as much as possible.