Efforts to prevent heart disease in rheumatoid arthritis are paying off

Although people with rheumatoid arthritis are twice as likely to develop heart disease, efforts to prevent heart problems and diagnose and treat heart disease early may be paying off, experts outlined at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.
The research group looked at heart disease deaths within 10 years of rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in two groups of people in the US: 315 people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis from 2000 to 2007 and 498 people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the 1980s and 1990s. They also looked at heart disease deaths in 813 people without rheumatoid arthritis. About two-thirds of the volunteers studied were women, and the average age was 60 years.

Findings
There was a significantly lower rate of death from heart disease in the more recently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients than in those diagnosed earlier: 2.8% vs 7.9%.

The researchers also looked at a type of cardiovascular disease called coronary artery disease, and found this too declined in the 10 years after people studied were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Among the 2000-07 diagnosis group, 1.2% died of coronary artery disease, paralleling the general population, compared with 4.7% of those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the 1990s.

Implications
“More research is needed to confirm why heart disease deaths among rheumatoid arthritis patients have declined, but potential factors include earlier and more vigilant screening for heart problems, improved treatment for heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and in general, more attention to heart health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” explains lead author, Dr Elena Myasoedova.

For more in-depth features, interviews and information, subscribe to Arthritis Digest magazine, a popular title that’s published six times a year. Click here for the digital version or tel 0845 643 8470 to order your had copy. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products