Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) was noted to be a chronic multisystem disease of unknown aetiology. It has a progressive course with exacerbation and remissions being part of its natural history. Overall, there is a 3:1 female preponderance, but this excess is greater in young people and the age-related incidence is approximately equal in elderly people. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in India is about 0.75. Multiple studies report that in the past half century, mortality among people with diagnosed RA has increased compared with the general population. The present case control study was conducted to assess the abnormalities in cardiac autonomic dysfunction among the rheumatoid arthritis patents in comparison with the age and sex matched controls. Non-invasive tests such as Sustained Hand Grip test, Cold Pressor Test and Orthostatic Hypotension were used to assess the cardiac autonomic functions. The data was entered in spreadsheet and analyzed using appropriate test of significance in EPITOOLS software. Autonomic sympathetic dysfunction was noticed among the RA patients. The cascade of inflammation and immune mediated reactions has been suggested to play a role in severe autonomic dysfunction. Early diagnosis and interventions were suggested to halt the progression of Autonomic dysfunction among RA patients helping in improving their quality of life.

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