The Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Knowledge Level, Framingham Risk Scores and Related Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

INTRODUCTION: In this study, it was aimed to obtain data that can help patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to reduce their cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. Therefore; in the study, it was aimed to evaluate the knowledge levels of the CVD risk factors, CVD risk levels of RA patients and the clinical data that may be associated with them. METHODS: 101 patients with RA were included in the study. Demographic characteristics and clinical data of the patients were collected. Pain was evaluated with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), CVD risk scores with the Framingham Risk Scoring (FRS) system, knowledge levels of CVD risk factors with the "Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Knowledge Level" (CARRF-KL) scale, and RA long-term disease exposure with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). RESULTS: The median value of the CARRIF-KL scale score of the participants was 19.0 (Minimum-Maximum: 2-26). There was no relationship between CARRIF-KL scores and researched data. It has been determined that FRS results of the participants are not related to their answers about whether RA creates a risk for CVD, body mass indexes, duration of illness, total cholesterol results and educational status. A relationship was found between the FRS results of the participants and their gender, age, smoking status and hypertension diagnosis status. A positive correlation was found between HAQ scores and pain levels and FRS. A negative correlation was found between HDL cholesterol levels and FRS. A positive correlation was found between systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements and FRS. Finally; It has been determined that KARRIF-BD results and FRS are not related. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was determined that the knowledge levels of the CVD risk factors of RA patients were not sufficient and that the CVD risk levels did not affect the knowledge levels of CVD risk factors. These data show the necessity of applying a CVD information program to RA patients

Elevated serum interleukin-23 levels in ankylosing spondylitis patients and the relationship with disease activity

This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum interleukin-23 (IL-23) levels and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Twenty male patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis according to the 1984 modified New York criteria for AS and twenty male healthy controls were included in this study. The demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings of the patients were recorded. Serum IL-23 levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured in both the AS and control groups. The Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity ındex (BASDAI), the Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), and the Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrology index (BASMI) were evaluated as disease activity parameters. The AS patients were divided into two subgroups as active and inactive in respect of CRP, ESR levels and BASDAI scores. The mean serum IL-23 levels of the AS and control groups were 334.45±176.54 pg/ml and 166.49±177.50 pg/ml respectively, and there was a significant difference between the groups. Correlation analysis of serum IL-23 levels with clinical and laboratory parameters showed that there were positive correlations between serum IL-23 levels and the BASDAI, BASFI scores in total, active and inactive patients and the BASMI scores in total and inactive patients and negative correlations between serum IL-23 levels and ESR in inactive patients. It was shown that altered serum IL-23 levels were related to AS disease activity. Further studies in large patient series are necessary to investigate the role of IL-23 protein in etiopathogenesis of AS

Neuropathic Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis and Related Factors: A Multicenter Longitudinal Study-Preliminary Report

WOS: 00041182410504