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Study: Elevated risk for acute coronary syndrome remains in new-onset RA despite improved disease control
Although there is improved disease control in new-onset rheumatoid arthritis, there remains an elevated risk for acute coronary syndrome among these patients, according to results of a recently published study.
“[In] spite of a decline in the absolute risks, the excess and the relative risks of [acute coronary syndrome] ACS have not declined over calendar time, such that patients with early [rheumatoid arthritis] RA are at an approximately 40% increased risk of ACS compared with the general population,” Marie Holmqvist, MD, from Umeå University in Sweden, and colleagues wrote.
Researchers performed a cohort study of 15,744 patients diagnosed with new-onset RA between 1997 and 2014 and matched them with 70,899 people from the general population. The investigators found 772 patients in the RA group developed ACS during 103,835 person-years of follow-up. There was an increased risk for ACS in these patients (hazard ratio = 1.41). Whereas the incidence for ACS declined with time for both cohorts, the risks for ACS remained stable.
“Whether RA disease-related or treatment-related or not, coronary artery disease in RA thus remains a concern and calls for continuous vigilance and implementation of preventive measures early in the RA disease course,” the researchers wrote. – by Will A. Offit
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.