Factors associated with extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid polyarthritis in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Design: A descriptive and analytical retrospective study.

Methods: The study was conducted at the Rheumatology Department of Cocody’s University Teaching Hospital in Abidjan from January 2009 to December 2018. The study participants were 106 patients with rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed on the basis of ACR 1987 and ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria, with extra articular manifestations.

Results: The study included 129 cases of rheumatoid polyarthritis and 106 of them had extra-articular manifestations. The hospital frequency of extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis was 82.17%. Our sample population were 92 females (86.79%) and 14 males (13.21%) with an average age of 44.69 years. The average duration of disease progression was 62.36 months. Extra-articular manifestations observed were largely dominated by general signs (83.86%) and haematological manifestations (78%). Other cases included rheumatoid nodules (10%), abarticular manifestations (7.62%) and dry syndrome in 8.70% of cases. Visceral manifestations were cardiovascular (3.77%), neurological (1.89%) and pulmonary in 1% of cases. Only articular deformities (OR=2.4; IC 95% = [1.4-6.3]; P=0.03) were significantly associated to the presence of extra-articular manifestations.

Conclusions: Extra-articular manifestations are very common during the rheumatoid arthritis in Abidjan. Joint deformities are the major factors significantly associated to the presence of extra-articular manifestations.