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Cardiovascular disease history associated with RA, not OA
Participants with a history of cardiovascular disease had an increased risk for incident rheumatoid arthritis but not osteoarthritis, according to recent study results.
Researchers conducted population-based Nord-Trøndelag health surveys (HUNT) for adults (aged 20 years or older) of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. Comprehensive questionnaires, a clinical examination and blood samples were conducted. HUNT2 (1995-1997, baseline) and HUNT3 (2006-2008, follow-up) data were obtained, with 33,567 participants reporting not having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) at baseline, and 786 participants reporting RA and 3,586 participants reporting OA at follow-up.
Self-reported incident RA was associated with female sex, age, smoking, BMI and history of previous cardiovascular disease (CVD; OR=1.52; 95% CI, 1.11-2.07). Sensitivity analysis excluding psoriasis participants (OR=1.70; 95% CI, 1.23-2.36) or including patients with hospital-diagnosed RA (OR=1.9; 95% CI, 1.10-3.27) or shared isotope carriers (OR=1.76; 95% CI, 1.13-2.74) confirmed previous CVD. There was no association between increased risk for OA and history of previous CVD (OR=1.04; 95% CI, 0.86-1.27).
“A probable explanation is that increased systemic inflammation may contribute to parallel development of atherosclerosis and RA during the preclinical period in individuals exposed to common RA and CV risk factors, in a similar way that such interaction accelerates CVD in patients with established RA,” the researchers concluded. “Because CV risk factors are increased at onset of RA, active cardiovascular risk management is important from the time of diagnosis.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.