Publications by authors named "Maria F B R Guimaraes"
Article Synopsis
- RF titers are significant in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and vary in their clinical impact, with high RF titers linked to poorer health outcomes.
- A study with 1,097 RA adults found a substantial portion had positive RF, with high titers prevalent, and identified associations of high RF with factors such as tobacco use and higher body mass index.
- High RF levels correlated with increased disease activity, reduced functional capacity, and greater use of corticosteroids and biological drugs, indicating a need for careful monitoring in RA patients.
Background: Infections increase mortality and morbidity and often limit immunosuppressive treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Objective: To analyze the occurrence of serious infections and the associated factors in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients under real-life conditions.
Methods: We analyzed data from the REAL, a prospective observational study, that evaluated Brazilian RA patients, with clinical and laboratory data collected over a year.
Do it fast! Early access to specialized care improved long-term outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis: data from the REAL multicenter observational study.
Adv Rheumatol
April 2023
Background: Early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) offers an opportunity for better treatment outcomes. In real-life settings, grasping this opportunity might depend on access to specialized care. We evaluated the effects of early versus late assessment by the rheumatologist on the diagnosis, treatment initiation and long-term outcomes of RA under real-life conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCardiovascular risk comorbidities in rheumatoid arthritis patients and the use of anti-rheumatic drugs: a cross-sectional real-life study.
Adv Rheumatol
June 2021
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune systemic inflammatory disease. In addition to joint involvement, RA patients frequently have other comorbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases. Drugs used for RA treatment may increase or decrease the risk of a cardiovascular event.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In Brazil, socioeconomic differences in the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been demonstrated, which are important in the formulation of hypotheses regarding the association between environmental factors, lifestyle and the risk of disease development. This study examines how the socioeconomic condition of the patient with RA in Brazil, assessed according to social class, educational level, employment situation and use of caregivers, affects the times between the beginning of symptoms and diagnosis and the beginning of the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, as well as the presence of erosive disease and functional status.
Methods: This work is part of a multicentric study called REAL - Rheumatoid Arthritis in Real Life in Brazil, which is a prospective observational cohort study.
Background: Discordance between patient's global assessment (PtGA) and physician's global assessment (PhGA) has been described in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Understanding the reasons for this discrepancy is important in the context of treat-to-target treatment strategy.
Objective: To assess the determinants of PtGA and PhGA and factors associated with discordance between them.
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with high frequency of comorbidities and increased risk of polypharmacy. Although there is a great potential for complications, there is a gap in literature on polypharmacy in patients with rheumatic arthritis.
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy in a population in a real-life setting.
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has evolved rapidly in recent years. Nonetheless, conventional synthetic disease-modifying drugs (csDMARDs) remain the gold standard for RA treatment. The treatment for RA is expensive and this has a negative impact on public health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhich is the best cutoff of body mass index to identify obesity in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis? A study using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition.
Rev Bras Reumatol Engl Ed
August 2019
Introduction: Standard anthropometric measures used to diagnose obesity in the general population may not have the same performance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Objective: To determine cutoff points for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) for detecting obesity in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by comparing these standard anthropometric measures to a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-based obesity criterion.
Patients And Method: Adult female patients with more than six months of diagnosis of RA underwent clinical evaluation, with anthropometric measures and body composition with DXA.
Which is the best cutoff of body mass index to identify obesity in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis? A study using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition.
Rev Bras Reumatol
February 2016
Introduction: Standard anthropometric measures used to diagnose obesity in the general population may not have the same performance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Objective: To determine cutoff points for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) for detecting obesity in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by comparing these standard anthropometric measures to a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-based obesity criterion.
Patients And Method: Adult female patients with more than six months of diagnosis of RA underwent clinical evaluation, with anthropometric measures and body composition with DXA.