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Is the prevalence of arterial hypertension in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis associated with disease?

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Abstract

In this study, we compare the prevalence of arterial hypertension (HT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients, exposed to high- and low-grade chronic inflammation, respectively, to assess the possible association between chronic inflammation and HT. A total of consecutive 627 RA and 352 OA patients were enrolled in this multicentric study. HT was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140 and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or current use of any antihypertensive drug. Overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25, and patients ≥65 years were considered elderly. The prevalence of HT was higher in the OA group than in the RA group [73.3 % (95 % CI, 68.4, 77.7) and 59.5 % (95 % CI, 55.6, 68.4) P < 0.001, respectively]. When the results were adjusted for age and BMI, the HT prevalence was similar in both groups [RA 59 % (95 % CI, 55.1, 63.8) OA 60 % (95 % CI, 58.4, 65.0)]. In both groups, the prevalence of HT was higher in the elderly and those who were overweight than in the younger patients and those with a BMI < 25. Overweight (BMI ≥ 25) and age ≥65 were independent predictors of HT in multivariate logistic regression model, which showed no association between HT and the disease (RA or OA). The results indicate a robust association of age and BMI with HT prevalence in both RA and OA. The difference in HT prevalence between RA and OA is due rather to age and BMI than to the features of the disease, putting into question specific association of HT with RA.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Professor Davor Eterovic, Ph.D., of the University of Split Medical School for statistical advice. This work was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, the Republic of Croatia (198-1081874-0183 to JMV).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dubrava University Hospital, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Av. G. Šuška 6, 10 040, Zagreb, Croatia

    Jadranka Morović-Vergles & Lea Šalamon

  2. Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Split University Hospital, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia

    Daniela Marasović-Krstulović

  3. Hospital for Cardiac, Pulmonary and Rheumatic Rehabilitation, Talassotherapia, Opatija, Croatia

    Tatjana Kehler

  4. Department of Physical Medicine, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia

    Davorin Šakić & Olga Badovinac

  5. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Rheumatology, Split University Hospital, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia

    Tonko Vlak & Daniela Šošo

  6. Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, University of Rijeka School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

    Srđan Novak

  7. Department for Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, School of Medicine University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

    Nives Štiglić-Rogoznica & Doris Stamenković

  8. Department of Rheumatic Diseases, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, GH “Dr. Josip Benčević”, Slavonski Brod, Croatia

    Marino Hanih

  9. Department of Internal Medicine, Osijek University Hospital, Osijek, Croatia

    Dražen Bedeković, Jasminka Milas-Ahić & Višnja Prus

  10. Department of Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, “Sisters of Charity” Clinical Hospital Center, Referral Center for Spondyloarthropathies, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia

    Simeon Grazio

  11. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Osijek University Hospital, Osijek, Croatia

    Mira Kadojić

  12. Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Zagreb Clinical Hospital Center, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

    Branimir Anić

  13. Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Zagreb Clinical Hospital Center, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

    Đurđica Babić-Naglić

  14. Department of Pathophysiology, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

    Stjepan Gamulin

Authors
  1. Jadranka Morović-Vergles
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  2. Lea Šalamon
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Correspondence to Jadranka Morović-Vergles.

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Morović-Vergles, J., Šalamon, L., Marasović-Krstulović, D. et al. Is the prevalence of arterial hypertension in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis associated with disease?. Rheumatol Int 33, 1185–1192 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-012-2522-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-012-2522-1

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