Age (≥ 65 years), female sex, RA duration (≤ 3 years), RA stages III and IV, HAQ (≥ 1.0), serum CRP levels, BMI (> 25), hypertension, NIDDM, serum LDL-C (≥ 140 mg/dl), smoking history, biological DMARD use, NSAID use, and cumulative steroid dose (≥ 5.5 g) were selected as independent variables. This evidence concerns the gene CRP and rheumatoid arthritis.