Key Essential Indicator Values for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Iraq Vary Seasonally
Author(s): Reham Najim Abd, Majid Mohammed Mahmood*, Asaad F Albayati, Fatimah Kadhim Ibrahim AL-Mahdawi and Shaymaa A.Naji
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis clinical symptoms can range from moderate to severe. It can destroy joints, result in chronic disability, and cause early death. A greater risk of cardiovascular disease is one of the clinically relevant comorbidities that rheumatoid arthritis is linked to. There are few, conflicting data that are currently available on lipid problems in RA. Inflammation seems to cause changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The purpose of this study is to ascertain how seasonal fluctuations in Iraq impact the concentrations of specific vital components in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Material and subjects: The study included (97) subjects, (55) confirmed rheumatoid arthritis, and (42) apparently healthy controls whose ages ranging between (30-60) years. The samples were collected and followed up across seasons during the period from January 2020 to February 2021. They were among outpatients who attended the Rheumatology Unit in Medical City/Baghdad. Measurements were made and a questionnaire was applied to each participant in the laboratories of the Medical City. Results: During the winter season, non-significant variations in urea, creatinine, AST, and HDL levels were seen between RA patients and healthy controls, although significant differences (P<0.05) were seen in ALT. In the moderate season, non-significant variations in urea, creatinine, AST, and HDL levels were observed between patients and controls, while significant differences (P<0.05) in ALT and Triglyceride levels were observed. Creatinine, ALT, and AST levels were not significantly different during the summer season, but urea, Triglyceride, and HDL levels were significantly different (P<0.05). Between the winter, moderate, and summer seasons, there were no significant differences in urea, creatinine, ALT, AST, S. Triglyceride, and HDL.While there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in cholesterol levels which increased in the winter season as compared with the summer season. Conclusion: The inflammatory condition, rather than the changing of the seasons, has a greater impact on the liver and kidney functioning in rheumatoid arthritis patients.