Table 1 Rheumatoid arthritis-related parameters and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in subgroups of nondiabetic rheumatoid arthritis patients stratified by the presence of at least one new carotid plaque at follow-up end^a

Patient demographics

   Total number of patients

   Age at follow-up end (years)^b

   Sex, n (%)

   Months of follow-up (months)

RA-related parameters

   Duration of disease at follow-up end (years)

   Functional class of disease, n (%)

Class I

Class II

Class III

Class IV

   Stage of disease, n (%)

Early

Moderate

Severe

Terminal

   RF-positive, n (%)

   hs-CRP AUC during follow-up (mg/dl × months)

   ESR AUC during follow-up (mm/hour × months)

Disease-related treatments (months during follow-up)

   Nonbiologic DMARDs

   Biologic agents

   Corticosteroids

Remission during follow-up (months)

Remission during follow-up (% of follow-up time)

Traditional cardiovascular risk factors

   Hypertension at baseline, n (%)

   SBP AUC during follow-up (mmHg × months)

   DBP AUC during follow-up (mmHg × months)

   Antihypertensive treatment (% follow-up time)

   LDL ≥ 160 mg/dl and/or under statin treatment at baseline, n (%)

   LDL AUC during follow-up (mg/dl × months)

   Statin use during follow-up (% follow-up time)

   Smoking at end of follow-up, n (%)

   Total years of smoking

BMI (kg/m²)

   BMI at baseline

   BMI at follow-up end

   Positive family history of CAD, n (%)

Number of CV risk factors, n (%)

   0

   1

   2

   3

Carotid plaques at baseline, n (%)