Cardiovascular disease and psychological morbidity amongst rheumatoid arthritis patients

Gareth Treharne, ED Hale, Antonia Lyons, David Booth, MJ Banks, N Erb, KM Douglas, George Kitas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with co-morbid cardiovascular disease (CVD) have different psychological morbidity (and psychosocial risk factors for it) compared with RA patients without co-morbid CVD. METHODS: Patients with RA and co-morbid CVD (n = 44; hypertension alone for n = 27) were compared with RA patients without CVD (n = 110). Differences in psychological morbidity (depression and anxiety) and psychosocial risk factors for this (arthritis self-efficacy, acceptance, social support and optimism) were examined while controlling statistically for medical and demographic covariates. RESULTS: Groups did not differ on RA duration, RA activity, marital status or socioeconomic status, but RA patients with co-morbid CVD were older, less likely to be female and less likely to be in employment than those without CVD. RA patients with co-morbid CVD had significantly higher depression and were more likely to score above cut-offs for depression than RA patients without CVD. No differences existed in anxiety, although anxiety appeared to be more common than depression. Low optimism was identified as a possible psychosocial risk factor for depression. CONCLUSIONS: RA patients with co-morbid CVD have higher depression than RA patients without CVD; low optimism is a potentially modifiable risk factor that may mediate this difference. RA patients with co-morbid CVD may benefit from systematic screening for depression and targeted intervention if necessary.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)241-246
Number of pages6
JournalRheumatology
Volume44
Early online date12 Oct 2004
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2005

Keywords

  • comorbidity
  • anxiety
  • work status
  • optimism
  • depression

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