The clinical aspect of overweight on rheumatoid arthritis and disease activity

Objective: To investigate the influence of obesity on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients and to determine a probable connection with the acute phase response.                                          Materials and methods: The recruited patients satisfied the criteria from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). To evaluate the body mass index (BMI), anthropometric tests were carried out at the Rheumatology Department at Baquba Teaching Hospital, which has a consultation unit. The serum levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) were measured from blood samples taken through the particle-enhanced (latex) immunonephelometry assays on the genius analyser (CO, Ltd. China) and test kits from IMTEC-CCP-Antibodies. RF screen and serological tests (latex) were carried out to determine the C-reactive protein (CRP), measure Hb and the total WBCs count, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was also carried out.                                                                                                                                                                        Results: The current study findings from the sample of RA patients showed that the proportion of patients falling into the overweight classification (BMI 25-29) was 80.6% while the obese classification (BMI 30-35) was 33.33%. Among the RF and ACCP-positive cases, a marginally stronger relationship between the development of RA and the history of obesity was found. Additionally, a significant correlation between acute phase response and free mass was found in RA patients (anti-CCP p-value≤ 0.00021 ESR p≤ 0.00072 Hb p≤ 0.00054, and W.B.C p =≤ 0.000.94, CRP p≤1).                                                                                                     Conclusion: The present study’s findings show an elevated prevalence of high body mass among the RA patients. Furthermore, a linear association existed between the fat free mass and the acute phase response.