Clinical Study

The Role of Simvastatin in the Therapeutic Approach of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 1

Baseline characteristics.

VariableSimvastatin groupControl group

Age (years)61.15 (9.49)56.48 (11.84)0.053
Women44 (88%)42 (84%)0.566
Rheumatoid factor positive 25 (50%)27 (54%)0.69
Anti-CCP antibody positive25 (50%)28 (56%)0.55
Disease duration (years)10.62 (9.37)11.98 (11.86)0.956
Methotrexate32 (64%)33 (66%)0.835
Sulfasalazine20 (40%)19 (38%)0.838
Hydroxychloroquine 10 (20%)11 (22%)0.807
Leflunomide12 (24%)11 (22%)0.813
Etanercept1 (2%)1 (2%)1
Oral prednisolone16 (32%)17 (34%)0.832
Early morning stiffness (min)*12.80 (0–60)15.25 (0–60)0.446
Tender joint count*7.02 (0–24)5.23 (0–25)0.168
Swollen joint count*1 (0–8)0.6 (0–4)0.684
VAS pain (mm)59.76 (18.90)50.50 (23.74)0.062
Patient global assessment (mm)58.29 (14.47)54.75 (19.61)0.206
Evaluator global assessment (mm)51.46 (9.10)47.50 (12.55)0.066
HAQ-DI1.53 (0.51)1.36 (0.59)0.166
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h)27.76 (15.81)27.58 (18.76)0.545
C-reactive protein (mg/L)*4.66 (0.36–36.67)4.71 (0.6–21.6)0.932
DAS28 ESR4.44 (0.98)4.04 (1.00)0.074
DAS28 CRP3.72 (1.00)3.39 (0.91)0.122
SDAI 19.51 (9.03)16.19 (8.02)0.085
CDAI19.05 (9.10)15.73 (8.09)0.087
Disease activity
 LDA14 (28%)19 (38%)0.290
 MDA28 (56%)25 (50%)0.550
 HDA8 (16%)6 (12%)0.566
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)240.34 (40.33)197.15 (30.13)<0.001
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL)155.07 (32.29)113.66 (25.30)<0.001
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)62.33 (15.88)63.53 (19.06)0.758
Triglyceride (mg/dL)133.58 (49.22)108.65 (48.29)0.024
Total creatine phosphokinase (UI/L)73.12 (33.44)78 (51.74)0.788
Alanine transaminase17.65 (6.82)22.74 (12.39)0.055
Aspartate aminotransferase19.53 (5.45)21 (7.19)0.576
Hypertension42 (84%)27 (54%)0.001
Smokers10 (20%)9 (18%)0.8
Ex-smokers2 (4%)3 (6%)0.648
Overweight26 (52%)16 (32%)0.044
Obesity15 (30%)13 (26%)0.658
Previous stroke2 (4%)1 (2%)0.56
Coronary heart disease10 (20%)0 (0%)0.001

Between the breaks there are standard deviations or percents unless otherwise indicated; minimal and maximal values of the variable; LDA: low disease activity; MDA: moderate disease activity; HDA: high disease activity.