Higher risk for MI after joint surgery seen among patients with RA

A higher risk for myocardial infarction was seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis following joint surgery, according to the results of a retrospective cohort study.

Researchers analyzed data from 308,589 joint surgeries among 240,571 patients. Of these, 3,654 patients had rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients were admitted to hospitals in the Australian state of Victoria, and records were maintained by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Procedure codes indicating joint surgery between July 1, 2000 and June 20, 2007 with 2-year follow-up data were identified, and sub-analysis for total hip joint replacement and total knee joint replacement was conducted. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was used to adjust for confounding factors. Patients with RA were more likely to be older, women with more comorbidities and of lower socioeconomic status, but were less likely to be smokers.

Following joint surgery at 6 weeks, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for myocardial infarction (MI) was 1.5 for patients with RA. At 12 months, the OR was 1.7, and the all-cause death OR was 2.18. The OR for cardiovascular death at 12 months was 2.3. Patients with RA who underwent joint surgeries other than hip or knee arthroplasty had a higher risk for MI within 6 weeks and 12 months of surgery compared to patients without RA. – by Shirley Pulawski

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Tropea J, et al. Arth Res Ther. 2016;doi:10.1186/s13075-016-0958-5.