Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and Associated Factors Among Patients Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder, which is associated with increased pro-inflammatory mediators to induce an elevation in acute-phase response, migration of immune cells, and swelling of synovial joints.¹ Thus, chronic inflammation in synovial joint leads to systemic complication and destruction of joints.² The disease activity score in RA patients can be measured using both C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).³ The binding of CRP to Fc portion of immunoglobulin activates the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation.² The disease activity score (DAS) has been associated with multi-biochemical marker, including CRP level.⁴ Disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) utilizes both CRP and ESR to measure disease activity in RA patients. DAS-28 CRP is mostly applied as compared to DAS-28 ESR due to its decreased confounding effect.⁵

The risk of RA is mostly associated with low socio-economic level of patients, including low educational status.⁶ The study conducted in China showed that disease activity in RA patients had a significant association with educational levels.⁷ The risk of RA elevated in patients with low-income status.⁸ On the other hand, smoking habits and sex (females) are some of the exposure risk factors for the pathogenesis of RA.⁹ Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines may be elevated in an individual with smoking habit, which account for the pathogenesis of RA.¹⁰ The association of disease activity, treatment efficacy, and antibodies with smoking is not clearly defined in different types of studies.¹¹ However, researchers showed that RA patients with smoking habit developed a high disease activity, fatigue, and pain as compared to the non-smoker one.¹² On the other hand, diets may elevate the risk of RA by mediating systemic inflammation.¹³ The risk of the disease is elevated in patients who consumed diets with high amount of trans and saturated fatty acids.¹⁴ Thus, the risk of RA becomes elevated by 2.29 in patients with high solid oil consumption.¹⁵ In contrast to this, the burden of RA diminished in consumption of diets with high content of omega-3 fatty acids, including Olive oil and fish oil.¹⁶ Additionally, the risk of RA is expected to be elevated in the farming area with pesticides.¹⁷ The occupational exposures to pesticides, mineral oils, and silica are some of the risk factors for the pathogenesis of RA.¹⁸ On the other hand, the risk of RA increased among alcoholic drinkers with citrullinated protein antigen (ACPA) positive patients.¹⁹ A number of studies describe physical activity as a factor to decrease the level of hsCRP in arthritis patients.²⁰ Occupational exposure, low economic status and level of education are some of socio-economic factors, which are associated with risk of RA.²¹ Although the inflammatory marker in RA patient has been assessed earlier, there is no adequate comprehensive study done in Ethiopia regarding disease activity and its association with socio-demographic factors. Therefore, evaluation of disease activity using biochemical marker (hsCRP) and associated factors was the aim of this study. The study also analyzed the association between socio-demographic factors with disease activity status of RA patients.

Materials and Methods

Objective of Study

Evaluation of the level of C-reactive protein and associated risk factors in RA patients was the main aim of this study. Identifying the association between disease activity of RA (hsCRP) and socio-demographic characteristics was another aim of the study.

Study Design

The institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study design was utilized during the study period. The study was taken place at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, which is the largest referral hospital in Ethiopia. The study was conducted from June up to November 2018.

Study Population

All RA patients with early and active stages of the disease were selected as the study population. Patients having the inclusion parameters of American College of Radiology and European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) were included in this study. Patients were diagnosed by senior physicians using clinical and biochemical identification parameters.

Patients’ Inclusion and Exclusion Parameters

In this study, RA patients with different disease activity status were included. Patients who did not provide the complete information or data were excluded. In this regard, patients with less than 18 years old and with other psychological disorders were also excluded from this study. On the other hand, patients who had chronic diseases including diabetes and cancer were excluded.

Control Group Inclusion and Exclusion Parameters

The apparently healthy individuals who had no chronic diseases, including hypertension, tuberculosis, RA, and diabetes mellitus, were included as control groups during this investigation. Study participants were selected from the hospital staff and other healthy individuals who took care of patients in the hospital. Similar to case groups, study subjects who provided inadequate information were excluded.

Blood Sample Collection Process and Data Collection Procedure

Measurement of C-reactive protein was conducted after the overnight fasting condition to avoid misinterpretation of laboratory investigation. The procedure of laboratory investigation includes the collection of an appropriate level of blood, centrifugation at 3500 revolutions per minute (rpm) and finally preservation of sample until biochemical parameter analysis was done. On the other hand, well-structured open-ended questionnaire was utilized to assess the associated risk factors in RA patients. Data were collected by using data collectors with one supervisor. One-day training was provided for data collectors and supervisor on research methodology, data collection technique, ethical issues. The questionnaire was checked for completeness, and the overall data collection processes were monitored by the principal investigator.

Data Analysis Procedure

Data was transcribed into computer information from the completed questionnaire, and then data coded, edited, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software for analysis. Descriptive analysis was performed, and the results presented in the form of tables and figures, multi variable linguistic regression. The socio-demographic characteristics of study participants (occupation, education, income, smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity and others) were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were compared among case and control groups using independent sample t-test. It was performed using step-wise methods to identify factors independently associated with the dependent variable. The strength of association was measured using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Result

Socio-Demographic Characteristics

In this study, 73 RA patients and 40 apparently healthy study subjects were involved. Of the total patients, 9 (12.4%) and 64 (87.6%) were male and females, respectively. Thirty-eight (52%) patients failed under the age category of 40–59 years old. Regarding the occupational exposure, 34 (46.5%), 08 (10.9%), 11 (16.3%) patients had housewife, farmer and private occupation, respectively. Additionally, 17 (23.5%), 23 (31.5%) and 33 (45%) patients were categorized as high-, middle- and low-income status, respectively. Concerning the assessment of educational level, 19 (26%), 22 (30%), 20 (27%), 12 (17%) patients were illiterate, completed primary and school, college, respectively. The majority of patients were urban residents (89%) (as shown in Table 1).

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of RA Patients and Control Groups

Evaluation of hsCRP and Demographic Characteristics Among Case and Control Groups

In this study, the Mean ± SD of hsCRP level among cases and control groups were 10.54 ± 17.26 and 3.54 ± 7.60, respectively. Additionally, the Mean ± SD of body mass index of RA patients and apparently healthy control groups were 23.25 ± 3.67 and 23.87 ± 3.77, respectively. On the other hand, there was a statistically significant demographic difference between patients and controls regarding occupation and monthly income. The level of high sensitivity C-reactive protein showed a statistically significant elevation among cases as compared to the control one Table 2.

Table 2 Comparison of hsCRP and Associated Factors Among Case and Control Group

Evaluation of Associated Risk Factors and Disease Activity in RA Patients

Multivariate analysis was done on demographic associated risk factors to assess their association with disease activity of RA. The analysis of risk of RA patients was depended on the measurement of disease activity status. In this regard, patients with <3mg/l hsCRP and >3mg/l hsCRP were categorized as low and high disease activity status, respectively. Low-income patients had a statistically significant association with high disease activity (AOR=12.79) as compared to high-income status patients. Additionally, patients with smoking habit, females, illiterate and occupational exposures are some of the associated risk factors with high disease activity (hsCRP >3mg/dl) (as shown in Table 3).

Table 3 Multivariable Logistic Regression of Associated Demographic Factors with High Disease Activity

Comparison of Disease Activity Status of RA Patients with Occupational Exposure

From the total enrolled RA patients, 3, 16, 6, 9 and 8 of them were industrial workers, housewives, farmers, government civil servants and private workers with high disease activity status (42 RA patients with >3mg/l hsCRP level), respectively. On the other hand, 1, 19, 2, 5 and 4 patients had industry workers, housewives, farmers, government civil servants, and private worker occupation, respectively. They had lower disease activity status (31 RA patients with <3mg/L hsCRP) (as shown in Figure 1).

Figure 1 Comparison of disease activity status among occupational types.

Comparison of Disease Activity with Income of Study Participants

Out of the total study participants, 26, 12 and 4 patients had high disease activity (42 patients with >3mg/l hsCRP) with their respective low-, medium- and high-income status. In contrast, 7, 11 and 13 patients had low disease activity (31 patients with <3mg/l hsCRP) with their respective low-, medium- and high-income status (as shown in Figure 2).

Figure 2 Comparison of disease activity of study participants with income status.

Discussion

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder, which leads to the damage to joints with psychological, metabolic, and bone impact.²² Unless it is treated early, it induces the deformity of joints and bones.^23,24 In this study, 73 RA patients and 40 age-sex matched apparently healthy study subjects were involved. Of the total RA patients, 9 (12.4%) and 64 (87.6%) were males and females, respectively (Table 1). The assessment of this study showed that females are more likely affected by RA. Hormonal and genetic factors may contribute to sexual variation in the prevalence of RA.²⁵ Although there was no statistically significant variation, RA patients had a higher BMI index as compared to control groups. On the other hand, there was a statistically significant elevation of hsCRP among RA patients as compared to controls (Table 2). The result of this study is consistent with the previous investigation.²⁶

In this study, the level of hsCRP was measured and utilized to measure disease activity status in RA patients. Patients with <3mg/l hsCRP level were regarded as low disease activity, whereas patients with >3mg/l hsCRP were categorized as high disease activity status. Disease activity evaluation using C-reactive protein was supported by previous data.⁴ Although measurement of C-reactive protein is non-specific, it is utilized to evaluate disease activity status in RA patients.²⁷ From the total RF reactive patients, 30 and 25 of them had high and lower disease activity status, respectively. Although there was no statistically significant association, the majority of RF reactive patients had high disease activity. The association between RF and disease activity has not well defined; however, researchers correlate its effect with the destruction of joint and cardiovascular disease.^28,29 Additionally, there was a statistically significant variation regarding occupational exposure among RA patients as compared to apparently healthy individuals (P < 0.00). The assessment of our study was similar to the original research done in Sweden.³⁰ Similarly, a recent meta-analysis and systematic review revealed that occupational exposure contributes to the risk of RA.³¹ On the other hand, the monthly income of patients was assessed to evaluate its role in the risk of RA patients. There was a statistically significant variation regarding low economic status between case and control groups (P= 0.00). Thus, it was in line with previous finding.³²

In this study, industry workers, housewives, farmers, government civil servants, and private workers were involved to assess their disease activity status (Figure 1). The result of our study agreed with previous data.³³ On the other hand, the association between hsCRP with clinical and socio-demographic data has been analyzed. In this regard, RA patients with BMI value (25.9–29.9) were 1.19 times more likely to had high disease activity as compare to <25 BMI value. Thus, it was agreed with the earlier scientific data conducted in 2018.¹¹ The research article done in Sweden confirmed that patients with high BMI value had high disease activity scores.¹¹ On the other hand, 26, 12, and 4 of study participants had high disease activity with their respective low-, medium-, and high-income status (Figure 2). Patients with low economic status (<500 ETB) were 12.79 times more likely to have high disease activity as compared to high economic status individual (>1000ETB). There was a high statistical significant association between low-income status with high disease activity (p < 0.00) (Table 3). In line with our results, a case-control study conducted in Sweden confirmed that low socio-economic status and smoking contribute to the risk of RA.²¹ The previous investigation from some developed countries showed that the pathogenesis of RA is affected through low socio-economic level.³⁴ Additionally, smoker patients were 20.03 times more risky to have high disease activity as compared to the non-smoker one (Table 3). The association between smoking and disease activity may be due to its radiographic progression and generation of free radicals in tobacco.^10,11 Regarding occupational exposure, farmers and industry workers were 1.50 times more likely to develop high disease activity as compared to private worker. The possible reason for their high disease activity status may be associated with their exposure to pesticides (farmer) and silica (industry worker).¹⁸ On the other hand, RA patients with solid oil consumption were 1.48 times more likely to have high disease activity score. However, there was no statistically significant association between consumption of solid oil with high disease activity. In line with our study, a case-control study done in Iran revealed that the risk of RA elevated by 2.29 due to consumption of solid oil.¹⁵ It may be due to the high proportion of saturated fatty acids within solid oil.¹⁵ Patients with occasional alcohol drinking habit (AOR=6.00) had more risk of RA as compared to non-drinker one. In contrast to our result, the recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in Scientific reports revealed that disease activity decreased in RA patients with alcohol consumption.¹⁹

Conclusion

The inflammatory marker, hsCRP, was significantly higher among patients as compared to controls. The higher hsCRP showed high grade of systemic inflammation in RA patients. The level of hsCRP was elevated in patients with rheumatoid factor seropositive and with high BMI value. Generally, the result of our study showed that different socio-economic factors had an association with the disease activity of RA. In this study, patients with lower income status had a statistically significant association with a high risk of RA. The low economic status may be associated with accessibility of good health facility and living standard. Therefore, avoiding poverty may decrease the risk of RA. Environmental risk factors (smoking, occupational exposure and habit of solid oil consumption) had an association with increased risk (high disease activity) of RA patients. Exposure to hazardous chemicals and saturated fatty acids may account for the pathogenesis of RA. Therefore, management of socio-economic factors may protect against severe disease activity and complication of RA.