Background Comorbidities including cardiovascular (CV) risk, cancer and osteoporosis are frequent in RA.[1]

Objectives To quantify at baseline and 3 years later, the prevalence (at baseline) and incidence (over 3 years) of some selected comorbidities.

Methods This was an open long term (3 years) extension of the COMEDRA 6-month randomized controlled trial in which patients with definite, stable RA were visiting a nurse for comorbidity counselling.[2] Comorbidity status was assessed through face-to-face interviews and nurses provided advice on screening and management, at baseline and 3 years later. The frequency of comorbidities was assessed at both timepoints and incidence of new cases was assessed as overall % of patients and as relative increase in the given comorbidity.

Results Of the 970 recruited patients, 776 (80%) were followed up at 2–4 years (15, 1.5%, had died) and 769 (79%) had available data for comorbidities at both timepoints: at baseline, mean (±SD) age 58 (±11) years, mean disease duration 14 (±10) years; 614 (80%) were women and 538 (70%) were receiving a biologic with a mean DAS28 of 3.1±1.3.

At baseline, the most frequent comorbidities were history of fracture (31.9%) and high blood pressure (30.9%) and at 3 years the comorbidity which had most increased (i.e., incidence) in this population aged around 60 years, was high blood pressure (4%) whereas smoking had decreased (Table).

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Conclusions Comorbidities are frequent in RA though screening does not always address the most frequent or severe comorbidities. Efforts must be pursued to improve comorbidity screening and prevention.

References

1. Ref 1. Baillet A, Gossec L et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016;75(6):965–73.

2. Ref 2. Dougados M, Soubrier M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015;74(9):1725–33.

References

Acknowledgements grant from Roche France and from the French National Research Program (PHRC AOM 12072).

Disclosure of Interest None declared