INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: EVIDENCE FROM A US POPULATION-BASED NHANES STUDY
Author(s)
Jayati Nandy, MSc1, Rezawana Hossain, M.Sc1, Baanie Sawhney, M.Sc1, Manvi Sharma, MBA, MS, RPh, PhD1, Rajender Aparasu, PharmD, PhD2.
1Peritia, Morrisville, NC, USA, 2University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
1Peritia, Morrisville, NC, USA, 2University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Early identification of individuals at elevated risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may support timely intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the association between selected inflammatory biomarkers and RA and to identify biomarkers with the strongest predictive value for RA prevalence.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adults aged ≥ 20 years from the latest available data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (2015-2023). The predictors included ten inflammatory biomarkers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and nine blood component-derived biomarkers. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to assess associations between quartile-based biomarker levels and RA. Predictive performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with bootstrap resampling.
RESULTS: A total of 12,595 participants were included, with an RA prevalence of 857 (6.80%). Most inflammatory biomarkers were significantly higher among individuals with RA compared with individuals without RA (p < 0.05). After adjustment for demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors, only hsCRP was significantly associated with higher RA risk in the highest quartile versus the lowest (OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.01-2.42; p = 0.044). RCS analysis demonstrated a linear association for both hsCRP and the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio and risk of RA. In ROC analysis, hsCRP demonstrated the highest area under the curve (AUC) among the evaluated biomarkers (AUC: 0.604).
CONCLUSIONS: Among the inflammatory biomarkers evaluated, hsCRP demonstrated a significant association with RA. This study extends existing evidence by comparatively evaluating multiple inflammatory biomarkers in a nationally representative population. More work is needed to address potential interventions targeting hsCRP levels to reduce the risk of RA.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adults aged ≥ 20 years from the latest available data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (2015-2023). The predictors included ten inflammatory biomarkers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and nine blood component-derived biomarkers. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to assess associations between quartile-based biomarker levels and RA. Predictive performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with bootstrap resampling.
RESULTS: A total of 12,595 participants were included, with an RA prevalence of 857 (6.80%). Most inflammatory biomarkers were significantly higher among individuals with RA compared with individuals without RA (p < 0.05). After adjustment for demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors, only hsCRP was significantly associated with higher RA risk in the highest quartile versus the lowest (OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.01-2.42; p = 0.044). RCS analysis demonstrated a linear association for both hsCRP and the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio and risk of RA. In ROC analysis, hsCRP demonstrated the highest area under the curve (AUC) among the evaluated biomarkers (AUC: 0.604).
CONCLUSIONS: Among the inflammatory biomarkers evaluated, hsCRP demonstrated a significant association with RA. This study extends existing evidence by comparatively evaluating multiple inflammatory biomarkers in a nationally representative population. More work is needed to address potential interventions targeting hsCRP levels to reduce the risk of RA.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH64
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), SDC: Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)