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52/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 52 out of 100. How common it is

Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis

Although synovitis is the pathological hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), many extra-articular manifestations (EMs) and comorbidities likely occur due to the complex, chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune features of RA. Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the most common cause of death in patients with RA. Compared to the general population, patients with RA have twice the risk of myocardial infarction and up to 50% increased CV mortality risk. Severe and prolonged disease activity, genetics, and inflammation (e.g. CRP, ACPA, cytokines, matrix-degrading enzymes) play important roles in CV disease and atheroscleroticdamage. The second major cause of death in patients with RA is respiratory disease, which occurs in 30-40% of patients. RA may affect the lung interstitium, airways, and pleurae, while pulmonary vascular involvement is less frequent. Central and peripheral nervous system involvement is usually due to small vessel vasculitis, joint damage, or drug toxicity. There is also evidence that microvascular cerebral damage caused by systemic inflammation is associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Some observational studies have hinted how Disease Modified Anti-Rheumatic Drugs and biologics could reduce the incidence of dementia. Primary gastrointestinal and renal involvements are rare and often relate to drug therapy. To minimize morbidity and mortality, physicians must manage RA disease activity (treat-to-target) and monitor risk factors and concomitant conditions (e.g. smoking cessation; weight regulation; monitoring blood pressure, lipids, thyroid hormone, folic acid and homocysteine; screening for depression, anxiety, atlantoaxial instability, and atherosclerosis). This article aims to provide an overview of the most prevalent and important EMs and comorbidities associated with RA.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Figus, F. A., Piga, M., Azzolin, I., McConnell, R., & Iagnocco, A. (2021). Rheumatoid arthritis: Extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities. Autoimmunity reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102776

Vancouver

Figus FA, Piga M, Azzolin I, McConnell R, Iagnocco A. Rheumatoid arthritis: Extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities. Autoimmunity reviews. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102776. PMID: 33609792.

BibTeX

@article{figus2021-33609792,
  author  = {Figus, F. A. and Piga, M. and Azzolin, I. and McConnell, R. and Iagnocco, A.},
  title   = {{Rheumatoid arthritis: Extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities}},
  journal = {Autoimmunity reviews},
  year    = {2021},
  doi     = {10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102776},
  pmid    = {33609792},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102776}
}

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Key findings

Compared to the general population, patients with RA have twice the risk of myocardial infarction and up to 50% increased CV mortality risk.
There is also evidence that microvascular cerebral damage caused by systemic inflammation is associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
This article aims to provide an overview of the most prevalent and important EMs and comorbidities associated with RA.

Why it matters

This overview notes evidence that microvascular cerebral damage caused by systemic inflammation is associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. It also mentions that some observational studies have hinted how Disease Modified Anti-Rheumatic Drugs and biologics could reduce the incidence of dementia.

New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Alzheimer's in numbers →

Study details

Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 52/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Autoimmunity reviews)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Autoimmunity Reviews: journal h-index 192 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	1 / 5	Rated “low” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	3 / 5	2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	0 / 4	Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	0 / 3	Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	6 / 7	Cited 519 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	5 / 5	74.1 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021
Impact for its field and year	6 / 6	Cited 48.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	1 / 6	Cited by 1 other studies in this library
Still being cited	4 / 4	Cited 361 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	3 / 4	Last-listed author Annamaria Iagnocco: h-index 75 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	University of Turin: institution h-index 903 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33609792)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	52 / 100	—

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