Renal impairment is relatively common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as age, hypertension, and the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) equation, but not with disease activity or severity, a recent study found. Researchers assessed renal function using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Of the 970 recruited patients, 931 were analyzed (women 79.6%, mean age 57.8 years, disease duration 11.1 years, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28] 3.1). They found:

• 82 patients (8.8% ) had an eGFR <60 ml/minute/1.73m² and 9% had proteinuria.

• In univariate analysis, renal impairment was associated with age, history of hypertension, high systolic blood pressure, and SCORE equation, but not with sex, disease duration, disease activity (as assessed by DAS28), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, disease severity (erosions, joint replacements), or RA medications.

• Multivariate analysis models showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05) and hypertension (OR 2.5) were associated with renal impairment.

Citation: Couderc M, Tatar Z, Pereira B, et al. Prevalence of renal impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Results from a cross-sectional multicenter study. [Published online ahead of print April 27, 2016]. Arthritis Care Res. doi:10.1002/acr.22713.