Effect of Dietary Education on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary education on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 112 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned into two groups, intervention and control. Dietary education was provided for the intervention group in 4 sessions; anthropometric measurements, serum levels of RF, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and fasting blood sugar were measured before and three months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and appropriate statistical tests. Results: The mean of total cholesterol (p <0.001), triglycerides (p = 0.004), LDL (p <0.001), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.003), FBS and BMI (p <0.001) were decreased significantly in the intervention group after education compared the control group. Conclusion: Traditional care for rheumatoid arthritis patients is not enough. Patients need more education in order to improve their situation.