Prevalence of Comorbidities in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Risk Factors at Tikur Anbassa Spacialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2024-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology
characterized by a symmetric polyarthritis and is the most common form of chronic inflammatory
arthritis. Comorbidities in RA are defined as one or more additional disorders (or diseases) associated
with the primary disease. The prevalence of comorbid conditions with RA varies across countries
from 3% to 60%. There is limited literature evidence from Africa and no study at all on the prevalence
of comorbidities in RA in Ethiopia.
Objective: The aim of this study to assess the magnitude of comorbidity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized hospital Rheumatology clinic, AAU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at TASH from August to Decembre
30. Data was collected using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and data extraction
form. In this study A total of 275 patients were recruited out of whom 19 patents excluded due to
incomplete data and 256 patients involved in this study. Data was analysed using SPSS V27.To identify
associated factors in comorbidities of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, bivariable and multivariable
analysis was done. Variables with p-value < 0.05 in multivariable analysis was employed as statistically
significant.
Result: A total of 275 patients were recruited out of whom 19 patents excluded due to incomplete data
and 256 patients analysed. 32% of the study participants were in the age group of 40-49 years with the
mean and SD of 47.3±11.14 years respectively. 92.6% were female and 77.3% of the participants were
from urban area. 51% of the study participants had between 2-10 years duration of RA with 5.98 years
mean duration of disease. RF was done for 195(76%) participant and 77.4% was positive. DAS28-ESR,
45.7% had low activity and moderate activity (33.6%). Two-third of the study participants were taking
prednisolone. The study revealed 34% of the study participants have had a one or more comorbidities
disease. The commonest comorbidities HTN (33%) DM (28%) dyslipidaemia (15%), ASCVD (7%)
and 20 % of the study participants having more than one comorbidity.
Conclusion:the aim of this study was to know the prevalence of comorbidity in RA patients and
associated factors and this cross-sectional study revealed comparable prevalence comorbidities across
the globe with most of the country finding. Even though the prevalence varies from country to country.
One of the main aims of the present study was to identify factors that may associate with comorbidities
in RA. this may be useful for the identification of patients that may need to be specifically targeted to
develop screening tools and hospital-based guideline for early intervention in the routine clinical
setting.
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Keywords
Rheumatoid Arthritis