Mean changes in lipid levels in patients with RA and non-RA subjects from 5 years before to 5 years after the RA incidence/index date based on random effects models
| Five-year change before the RA incidence/index date | Five-year change after the RA incidence/index date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lipid measure (mmol/litre) | RA | Non-RA | RA | Non-RA |
| Total cholesterol | −0.58* (−0.71 to −0.44) | −0.21 (−0.33 to −0.09) | −0.09 (−0.22 to 0.04) | −0.21 (−0.34 to −0.08) |
| Low-density cholesterol | −0.61* (−0.73 to −0.49) | −0.27 (−0.38 to −0.15) | −0.22 (−0.33 to −0.10) | −0.28 (−0.39 to −0.16) |
| High-density cholesterol | 0.08 (0.04 to 0.12) | 0.05 (0.02 to 0.09) | 0.13 (0.09 to 0.18) | 0.07 (0.04 to 0.11) |
| Triglycerides | −0.06 (−0.21 to 0.10) | −0.03 (−0.15 to 0.10) | −0.07 (−0.21 to 0.08) | 0.02 (−0.12 to 0.16) |
| TC:HDL ratio | −0.7* (−0.9 to −0.5) | −0.4 (−0.5 to −0.2) | −0.5 (−0.6 to −0.3) | −0.4 (−0.5 to −0.2) |
Values in parentheses are 95% CIs.
↵* p<0.001 indicates difference in the lipid changes between RA and non-RA cohorts.
HDL, high-density lipoprotein; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; TC, total cholesterol.