Table 1 Baseline characteristics and CMR findings

Female sex, n (%)

28 (72)

28 (72)

1.00

Age, years

49 ± 12

50 ± 12

0.65

Hypertension, n (%)

2 (5)

5 (13)

0.65

Diabetes, n (%)

0

1 (3)

-

Hyperlipidaemia, n (%)

5 (13)

6 (15)

0.75

BMI, kg/m2

24 ± 4

26 ± 5

0.13

DAS28-CRP (median, IQR)

N/A

3.3 ± 1.3

-

ESR, mm/hr (median, IQR)

N/A

15 (9-19)

-

CRP, mg/L (median, IQR)

1 (1-2)

9 (4-13)

< 0.001

Hemoglobin, g/L

13 ± 1

13 ± 1

0.47

Duration of RA, years (median, IRQ)

N/A

7 (4-11)

-

Duration of DMARDs, years (median, IQR)

N/A

4 (3-6)

-

LVEDV indexed to BSA, ml/m2

78 ± 15

80 ± 16

0.63

LVESV indexed to BSA, ml/m2

24 ± 16

23 ± 9

0.62

LVEF, %

73 ± 5

72 ± 7

0.25

LV Mass indexed to BSA, g/m2

52 ± 11

54 ± 12

0.34

LA size, mm

27 ± 5

32 ± 5

< 0.001

Mid SA circumferential strain

-19.0 ± 1.2

-17.1 ± 1.2

< 0.001

Peak diastolic circumferential strain rate (s-1)

117 ± 18

85 ± 18

< 0.001

Presence of LGE (%)

0

18 (46)

-

Volume fraction of LGE > 2SD (%)

0

3.7 ± 0.4

-

STIR T2 Ratio

1.5 ± 0.1

1.6 ± 0.2

0.07