Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq/Duhok Governorate

Background
The comorbidities of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients could impact both pharmacological therapy and the surgical management of patients.

Objectives
We aimed to determine the medical commodities and general information of patients diagnosed with RA in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Material and methods
We included previously diagnosed patients with RA who attended the “Duhok Center of Rheumatic Diseases and Medical Rehabilitation” in Duhok City for medical check-ups or periodic treatment.

Results
The prevalence of alcohol use and a family history of RA was 3.81% and 26.67%, respectively. The comorbidities were hypertension (26.67%), diabetes mellitus (20.95%), cardiovascular diseases (10.48%), thyroid disease (10.48%), and other medical conditions (10.48%). The prevalence of rheumatoid factor positivity and anti-CCP positivity was 70.48% and 76.19%, respectively. The prevalence of subcutaneous nodules and erosions was 4.76% and 27.62%, respectively. The mean DAS28 – ESR was 3.97 (0.7–7.8). The patients had moderate disease activity (34.29%), followed by high disease activity (26.67%), remission (21.91%), and low disease activity (17.14%). Females had more severe disease activity than male patients (31.33% vs 9.09%; p = 0.0135). Patients with high and moderate disease activity were more likely to have mild physical activity compared to patients with low disease activity and remission (p = 0.0005). The disease activity among RA patients was not associated with the therapy or medical comorbidities.

Conclusions
Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CVDs, and thyroid disease were the most common comorbidities in RA patients. Higher disease activity was associated with female gender and mild physical activity.