Study: Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis at Higher Cardiovascular Risk

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher incidence of cardiovascular problems but the increase is not explained by the usual cardiovascular risk factors, according to researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Researchers looked at the medical and death records of 236 patients with rheumatoid arthritis to assess the occurrence of cardiovascular-related hospitalizations, including myocardial infarction and stroke, and deaths related to cardiovascular disease.

For comparison, researchers used cardiovascular events that took place during an 8-year period in participants of a study of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease who were between the ages of 25 to 65.

Researchers reported in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism that they found an increased incidence of cardiovascular events in the rheumatoid arthritis patients that were independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Researchers conclude that there are additional mechanisms involved for cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. They suggest that physicians be aware of these patients' higher risk and "implement appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures."

Other sources: Arthritis and Rheumatism