Journal List > J Korean Rheum Assoc > v.16(2) > 1003656

Lee, Park, Cho, Baek, Kim, Lee, and Kim: Determinants of Insulin Resistance in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased cardiovascular events. These may be related to insulin resistance (IR). We evaluated status of IR and analyzed the relationship between IR and clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with RA.

Methods

We examined 52 RA patients (43 females) and 52 age and sex matched healthy controls. We measured Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) IR, calculated according to fasting serum glucose and insulin.

Results

In patients, age was 50.8±10.2 years old, disease duration was 42.1±30.9 months. In controls, HOMA IR was 0.62±0.30 and in patients, it was 1.28±0.50. This difference was highly significant (p<0.001). Patients with early RA (disease duration is less than 36 months) were 28, and established RA (more than 36 months) were 24. HOMA IR was significantly higher in patients with established RA (1.42±0.45) than those with early RA (1.16±0.45) (p=0.03), and significantly correlated with disease duration (r=0.36, p=0.01), BMI (r=0.36, p<0.001), total cumulative prednisolon dose (r=0.34, p=0.01). Disease duration and BMI were independent predictors for HOMA IR (p<0.01, p=0.03).

Conclusion

In patients with RA, IR measured by HOMA IR was more significantly increased than that of healthy control and significantly correlated with disease duration, BMI, and total cumulative prednisolon dose; however, the determinants of HOMA IR in RA patients were disease duration and BMI.

References

1. Young A, Koduri G. Extra-articular manifestations and complications of rheumatoid arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2007; 21:907–27.
crossref
2. Maradit-Kremers H, Crowson CS, Nicola PJ, Ballman KV, Roger VL, Jacobsen SJ, et al. Increased unrecognized coronary heart disease and sudden deaths in rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based cohort study. Arthritis Rheum. 2005; 52:402–11.
crossref
3. del RI, Escalante A. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2003; 5:278–86.
crossref
4. Gabriel SE. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Med. 2008; 121:S9–14.
crossref
5. Moller DE, Flier JS. Insulin resistance–mechanisms, syndromes, and implications. N Engl J Med. 1991; 325:938–48.
6. Reaven G. The metabolic syndrome or the insulin resistance syndrome? Different names, different concepts, and different goals. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2004; 33:283–303.
crossref
7. Hanley AJ, Williams K, Stern MP, Haffner SM. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in relation to the incidence of cardiovascular disease: the San Antonio Heart Study. Diabetes Care. 2002; 25:1177–84.
8. Yip J, Facchini FS, Reaven GM. Resistance to insulin-mediated glucose disposal as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998; 83:2773–6.
crossref
9. Caro JF. Clinical review 26: insulin resistance in obese and nonobese man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991; 73:691–5.
crossref
10. Chung CP, Oeser A, Solus JF, Gebretsadik T, Shintani A, Avalos I, et al. Inflammation-associated insulin resistance: differential effects in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus define potential mechanisms. Arthritis Rheum. 2008; 58:2105–12.
crossref
11. Garcia DJD, Lopezd GA, Sivera ML, Cuende QE. Significance of the insulin resistance in vascular disease associated to rheumatoid arthritis. Med Clin (Barc). 2008; 130:197–8.
12. Oguz FM, Oguz A, Uzunlulu M. The effect of infliximab treatment on insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Acta Clin Belg. 2007; 62:218–22.
crossref
13. Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, Naylor BA, Treacher DF, Turner RC. Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia. 1985; 28:412–9.
14. Arnett FC, Edworthy SM, Bloch DA, McShane DJ, Fries JF, Cooper NS, et al. The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1988; 31:315–24.
crossref
15. Kahn R, Buse J, Ferrannini E, Stern M. The metabolic syndrome: time for a critical appraisal: joint statement from the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2005; 28:2289–304.
crossref
16. Sattar N, McConnachie A, Shaper AG, Blauw GJ, Buckley BM, de Craen AJ, et al. Can metabolic syndrome usefully predict cardiovascular disease and diabetes? Outcome data from two prospective studies. Lancet. 2008; 371:1927–35.
crossref
17. Dessein PH, Tobias M, Veller MG. Metabolic syndrome and subclinical atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2006; 33:2425–32.
18. La MG, Cacciapuoti F, Buono R, Manzella D, Men-nillo GA, Arciello A, et al. Insulin resistance is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis. Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2007; 4:130–5.
19. Gonzalez-Gay MA, Gonzalez-Juanatey C, Martin J. Rheumatoid arthritis: a disease associated with accelerated atherogenesis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2005; 35:8–17.
crossref
20. Dessein PH, Joffe BI, Stanwix A, Botha AS, Moomal Z. The acute phase response does not fully predict the presence of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in inflammatory arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2002; 29:462–6.
21. Pearson TA, Mensah GA, Alexander RW, Anderson JL, Cannon RO 3rd, Criqui M, et al. Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease: application to clinical and public health practice: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2003; 107:499–511.
22. Wallberg-Jonsson S, Johansson H, Ohman ML, Ran-tapaa-Dahlqvist S. Extent of inflammation predicts cardiovascular disease and overall mortality in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. A retrospective cohort study from disease onset. J Rheumatol. 1999; 26:2562–71.
23. Svenson KL, Pollare T, Lithell H, Hallgren R. Impaired glucose handling in active rheumatoid arthritis: relationship to peripheral insulin resistance. Metabolism. 1988; 37:125–30.
crossref
24. Matthews JN, Altman DG, Campbell MJ, Royston P. Analysis of serial measurements in medical research. BMJ. 1990; 300:230–5.
crossref
25. Hallgren R, Berne C. Glucose intolerance in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases is normalized by glucocorticoids. Acta Med Scand. 1983; 213:351–5.
26. Dessein PH, Joffe BI, Stanwix AE, Christian BF, Veller M. Glucocorticoids and insulin sensitivity in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2004; 31:867–74.
27. Dessein PH, Joffe BI. Insulin resistance and impaired beta cell function in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2006; 54:2765–75.
crossref
28. Chung CP, Oeser A, Solus JF, Avalos I, Gebretsadik T, Shintani A, et al. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is increased in rheumatoid arthritis and is associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis. 2008; 196:756–63.
crossref
29. DeFronzo RA, Tobin JD, Andres R. Glucose clamp technique: a method for quantifying insulin secretion and resistance. Am J Physiol. 1979; 237:214–23. E.
crossref
30. Bergman RN, Prager R, Volund A, Olefsky JM. Equivalence of the insulin sensitivity index in man derived by the minimal model method and the euglycemic glucose clamp. J Clin Invest. 1987; 79:790–800.
crossref
31. Yalow RS, Berson SA. Plasma insulin concentrations in nondiabetic and early diabetic subjects. Determinations by a new sensitive immunoassay technic. Diabetes. 1960; 9:254–60.
crossref
32. Haffner SM, Miettinen H, Stern MP. The homeostasis model in the San Antonio Heart Study. Diabetes Care. 1997; 20:1087–92.
crossref

Fig. 1.
Comparison between control and patients with RA.
jkra-16-100f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Relationship between HOMA IR and disease duration.
jkra-16-100f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Relationship between HOMA IR and Body mass index (BMI).
jkra-16-100f3.tif
Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of patients with RA and controls
  Control (n=52) Patients with RA (n=52) p-value
Age, year 50.8±10.2 50.8±10.2 ?
Women, n (%) 43 (83%) 43 (83%) ?
BMI, kg/m2 22.0±2.6 23.0±2.7 NS
WC, cm 76.4±6.7 77.3±7.6 NS
Systolic BP, mm Hg 120.5±10.5 123.3±7.5 NS
Diastolic BP, mm Hg 78.1±10.2 81.2±7.2 NS
Fasting insulin, μIU/mL 3.0±1.2 6.2±2.3 <0.001
Fasting glucose, mg/dL 84.1±6.5 85.0±8.5 NS
TC, mg/dL 189.5±36.5 187.4±40.0 NS
HDL, mg/dL 61.1±12.6 60.4±13.7 NS
LDL, mg/dL 120.9±35.6 122.7±32.6 NS
Triglycerides, mg/dL 87.7±39.8 122.8±57.1 NS
HOMA IR 0.62±0.30 1.28±0.50 <0.001
CRP, mg/dL 0.8±1.4
ESR, mm/hour 38.3±27.8
RF, positive, n (%) 43 (83%)
Disease duration, month 42.1±30.9
Mean 6 month prednisolon, mg 3.8±2.5
Total prednisolon dose, mg 5,376.8±4,605.3

SD: standard deviation, N: number, BMI: body mass index, BP: blood pressure, WC: waist circumference, TC: total cholesterol, HDL-C: high density lipoprotein, LDL-C: low density lipoprotein, HOMA IR: homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, CRP: C-reactive protein, ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, RF: rheumatoid factor, NS: non-significant

Table 2.
Correlations of HOMA IR with variables
Variables HOMA IR
r p-value
Disease duration 0.36 0.01
BMI, kg/m2 0.36 <0.001
WC, cm 0.08 NS
Systolic BP, mmHg 0.07 NS
Diastolic BP, mmHg -0.04 NS
Fasting insulin,μIU/mL 0.91 0.001
Fasting glucose, mg/dL 0.20 NS
TC, mg/dL -0.07 NS
HDL-C, mg/dL 0.02 NS
LDL-C, mg/dL 0.10 NS
Triglycerides, mg/dL 0.05 NS
RF -0.14 NS
ESR, mm/hour -0.10 NS
CRP, mg/dL 0.18 NS
Mean 6 month prednisolon, mg 0.062 NS
Total prednisolon dose, mg 0.34 0.01

BMI: body mass index, BP: blood pressure, WC: waist circumference, TC: total cholesterol, HDL-C: high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, LDL-C: low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, RF: rheumatoid factor, HOMA IR: homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, CRP: C-reactive protein, ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, NS: non-significant

Table 3.
Clinical characteristics according to disease duration
  Control (n=52) Early RA (n=28) Established RA (n=24) p-value
Age, year 50.8±10.2 50.1±11.1 49.8±9.4 NS
Age at diagnosis 51.9±11.7 45.2±9.7 NS
Disease duration 20.0±9.0 64.5±23.0 <0.001
BMI, kg/m2 22.0±2.6 23.0±3.1 23.1±2.2 NS
WC, cm 76.4±6.7 77.5±8.6 78.4±6.2 NS
Systolic BP, mmHg 120.5±10.5 123.5±6.9 122.9±8.2 NS
Diastolic BP, mmHg 78.1±10.2 82.1±7.8 80.0±6.3 NS
Fasting insulin, μIU/mL 3.0±1.2 5.6±2.1 6.8±2.3 <0.001
Fasting glucose, mg/dL 84.1±6.5 84.0±7.9 85.2±9.3 NS
TC, mg/dL 189.5±36.5 184.2±34.5 191.2±46.0 NS
HDL, mg/dL 61.1±12.6 61.2±14.4 59.3±13.1 NS
LDL, mg/dL 120.9±35.6 111.3±27.8 140.8±32.5 NS
Triglycerides, mg/dL 87.7±39.8 107.7±53.7 146.1±56.1 0.03
HOMA IR 0.62±0.30 1.16±0.45 1.42±0.45 <0.001
RF, IU/mL 109.6±217.5 83.3±86.1 NS
ESR, mm/hour 38.9±30.0 37.8±26.1 NS
CRP, mg/dL 0.8±1.6 0.7±1.2 NS
Mean 6 month prednisolon, mg 3.4±2.5 4.3±2.4 NS
Total prednisolon dose, mg 2,197.8±1,445.4 9,080.0±4,233.8 <0.001

Statistical significances were tested by one way analysis of variances among groups,

Statistical significances were tested by independent t-test. RA: rheumatoid arthritis, BMI: body mass index, BP: blood pressure, TC: total cholesterol, HDL-C: high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, HOMA IR: homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, RF: rheumatoid factor, CRP: C-reactive protein, ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, NS: non-significant

Table 4.
Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis for HOMA IR in RA patients
  Standardized coefficients p-value 95% CI
Disease duration 0.34 <0.01 0.001∼0.01
BMI 0.28 0.03 0.004∼0.092

HOMA IR: homeostasis model of insulin resistance, RA: rheumatoid arthritis, BMI: body mass index, CI: confidence interval

TOOLS
Similar articles