Comorbidities among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Background

Comorbidities contribute substantially to morbidity and treatment complexity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but regional data from Saudi Arabia are limited. This study assessed the prevalence, patterns, and factors associated with documented comorbidities among patients with RA in Qassim. Methodology: This retrospective cross-sectional medical-record study included 793 eligible adults with RA followed or treated at King Fahad Specialist Hospital during 2015–2025. Comorbidities were identified from documented physician diagnoses and relevant clinical or laboratory information. Multivariable logistic regression assessed factors associated with the presence of at least one comorbidity using complete-case analysis.