Bisphosphonates may lower heart attack risk in rheumatoid arthritis

 Bone-strengthening drugs – bisphosphonates – could help people with rheumatoid arthritis to lower their risk of heart attack, says a large US study.

A total of 19,281 people with rheumatoid arthritis were asked to complete a questionnaire every six months, so that scientists could assess their health status, medication use and other clinical information. Over the eight-year study period, 5,689 people took bisphosphonates at some point, and these people were 30%–50% less likely to have a heart attack than those not taking the drugs.

Bisphosphonates have immunomodulatory effects, which may influence the development of vascular disease and the risk of heart attack, say the team in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

“This finding suggests a potential mechanism for the mortality reduction observed with bisphosphonate medications,” concludes Dr Cathleen Colon-Emeric.

“These are large numbers of people with rheumatoid arthritis who had a reduced risk of heart attack after taking bisphosphonates for their osteoporosis,” says a spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK. ”The results of this study could have a significant impact on clinical practice.”