To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Siriraj Rheumatoid Arthritis registry is a prospective cohort study establishing since May 2011. A total of 267 patients who had complete data in February 2015 were included in these analyses. All clinical and laboratory data related to disease activity, functional status, and parameters of MS according to the 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) were collected. Univariate and backward stepwise multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with MS.

Most (88%) were female with the mean age±standard deviation of 59±11.1 years old. MS was found in 43 patients (16%). Patients with MS had a significantly lower proportion of patients with remission (time-adjusted mean of disease activity score 28 or DAS28<2.6) than those with non-MS (2.3% vs. 16.5%, P=0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified 3 independent factors associated with MS including body mass index [OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.3], educational level≤12 years [OR 5.92, 95% CI 1.47 to 23.83], and disease remission [OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.93]. This model correctly predicted 84% of cases.

Remission rate is significantly lower in RA patients with MS. Disease activity of RA, body mass index, and educational level are associated with metabolic syndrome in patients with RA.