Table 1 Demographic data and traditional CVD risk factors in patients with early RA and age- and sex-matched controls

Women

64 (80%)

34 (77%)

Age, years

46.4 (10.7)

47.7 (11.1)

Systolic blood pressure, mmHg

123.6 (14.3)*

117.4 (11.0)

Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg

77.3 (8.6)

76.3 (8.3)

Heart rate, beats per minute

72.3 (10.5)

67.9 (9.4)

Cholesterol, mmol/L

5.40 (0.96)

5.39 (1.15)

Triglycerides, mmol/L

1.25 (0.49)*

1.06 (0.38)

HDL, mmol/L

1.52 (0.53)

1.44 (0.39)

BMI, kg/m²

25.7 (4.0)

25.1 (4.9)

Smoking, years

13.75 (14.32)*

6.96 (10.33)

Oral snuff, years

3.12 (8.01)

2.57 (7.39)

Diabetes mellitus

5 (6%)

1 (2%)

Previous CVD event

5 (6%)

1 (2%)

Postmenopausal

25 (42%)

16 (47%)

University education

23 (30%)

20 (46%)

Familial history of CVD

17 (24%)

7 (18%)

Treatment with NSAIDs

35 (50%)

2 (5%)

Treatment with coxibs

9 (13%)

1 (2%)

Treatment with statins

2 (3%)

1 (2%)

Treatment with corticosteroids

26 (38%)

---

Treatment with DMARDs

74 (97%)

---