Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) develop early changes in left ventricular (LV) geometry and experience cardiovascular events in excess than in the general population. This study was designed to assess prevalence, predictors and prognostic role of LV hypertrophy (LVH) in a selected group of RA patients with normal blood pressure and glycemia who should be at low risk for LVH.
We prospectively analyzed 241 normotensive normoglycemic RA patients (mean age 53 ± 12 years, 61% women) involved in a primary prevention program for cardiovascular diseases who were followed-up for 40 (24-56) months. LVH was detected by echocardiography and defined as LV mass ≥49.2 g/m
LVH was detected in 39 patients (16%). Older age (>53 years), greater body mass index (BMI > 25 kg/m
Nearly one-sixth of normotensive normoglycemic RA patients analyzed in a primary prevention program for cardiovascular diseases has LVH which is associated with obesity and older age, and strongly predicts cardiovascular event in these subjects.