DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2020.v06i11.005

Pages: 228-231

Background: In Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), disease activity helps to achieve remission with appropriate treatment, also known as treat-to-target strategy. This strategy is controversial as composite indexes assessing disease activity clinically may be affected by comorbidities or other patient-related factors. Thus they may not truly be a representation of disease activity. The study aimed to assess the cardio-respiratory manifestation and its correlation with clinical disease activity index (CDAI) in RA patients. Methodology: The cross-sectional study was performed on 100 RA patients. Severity of RA was assessed using CDAI. Cardiovascular manifestations were investigated using Electrocardiogram (ECG), 2D Echocardiography (M-mode). Chest X-ray, high resolution computed tomography of the chest, and pulmonary function tests were performed to assess respiratory manifestations. Data were analysed using R-Studio V1.2.5001 software. Chi-square test was used to find the association between variables. Results: Abnormal ECG findings were observed in 17 patients whereas, cardiovascular and respiratory abnormality was observed in 78 and 44 patients respectively. High and moderate diseases activity was found in 42 and 58 patients respectively. A significant association was observed between duration of disease and, cardiac and respiratory manifestation (P=0.0009, P=0.0004). A significant difference was observed in CDAI of patients with or without respiratory abnormalities (P=0.044). No significant association was found between CDAI and cardiorespiratory abnormality. Conclusion: Most RA patients had cardiorespiratory manifestations with high and moderate CDAI. For early identification and treatment, screening of cardiorespiratory manifestation is required.