Table 2

Cross-sectional associations at baseline between NT-proBNP (dependent variable) and rheumatoid arthritis disease activity


Adjusted linear regression
Multivariate linear regression


β coefficient
P value
β coefficient
P value

Age
1.02 (1.01–1.03)
< 0.001
1.009 (1.00–1.02)
0.04
Male gender
0.74 (0.59–0.95)
0.02
0.10 (0.04–0.23)
< 0.001
C-reactive proteina
1.01 (1.01–1.02)
0.002
1.01 (1.01–1.02)
0.001
RF IgM-positivea, b
0.96 (0.79–1.17)
0.67


Anti-CCP-positivea, b
0.90 (0.74–1.10)
0.30


Gluocorticoid usera, b
1.17 (0.94–1.48)
0.16


DMARD usera, b
1.04 (0.85–1.26)
0.71


NSAID usera, b
0.97 (0.80–1.19)
0.81


Ritchie scorea
1.01 (0.99–1.03)
0.21


HAQa
1.06 (0.90–1.24)
0.47


Sharp scorea
1.00 (0.99–1.02)
0.93


Disease durationa
0.99 (0.91–1.08)
0.82


Age × male gender


1.04 (1.02–1.05)
< 0.001

R2 adjusted


0.23
< 0.05

aAge- and gender-adjusted; bdichotomized variable. anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody; DMARD, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug; HAQ, Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; RF, rheumatoid factor; Ritchie score, Ritchie articular index; Sharp score, van der Heijde modified Sharp criteria.

Provan et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008 10:R70   doi:10.1186/ar2442