Cognitive Impairment in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that causes symmetrical and destructive inflammation in the joints and multiple tissues. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment compared to healthy individuals.

Objective: To estimate the frequency of cognitive impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its possible relationship with disease activity and treatment.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 550 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical Surgical Hospital in the period from February 2020 to February 2022. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment test was applied to identify cognitive impairment; disease activity was assessed with the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28).

Results: The mean age was 57.5 ± 12.6 years; 91.3% women and 85.3% with white skin, 48.2% with more than 10 years of evolution of the disease. 65.0% were in remission of the disease. Cognitive impairment was identified in 26.4%. The group with this condition had higher percentage of patients with high and moderate activity, as well as the use of glucocorticoids and biological therapy (43.4% versus 6.4%) and lower percentage of those who used methotrexate (44.8% versus 59.5%).

Conclusions: Cognitive impairment was found in one fifth of patients associated with age, with greater disease activity and the use of biological therapies.