Arthritis Sufferers at Increased Risk of Heart Disease

Previously, some studies have shown an increase in disease and death risk due to cardiovascular disease, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Solveig Wallberg-Jonsson, from Umea University (Sweden), and colleagues completed a five-year long study that shows that the risk of cardiovascular disease for people with rheumatoid arthritis is due to disease-related inflammation as well as the risk factors which affect the general population. Following over 400 people with RA, 97% of the patients had been treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) after five years, reducing both the chemical markers of inflammation and the physical appearance of their arthritis.  The team revealed that a new cardiovascular event such as heart disease, stroke or deep vein thrombosis could be predicted by intensity of their arthritis and by presence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and the level of triglycerides. Writing that: “The occurrence of new [cardiovascular] events in very early [rheumatoid arthritis] was explained by traditional [cardiovascular] risk factors and was potentiated by high disease activity.,” the researchers conclude that: “Treatment with [disease modifying antirheumatic drugs] decreased the risk. The results may have implications for cardio-protective strategies in [rheumatoid arthritis].”