Health

Rheumatoid arthritis may increase risk of heart disease, heart attacks

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 21, 2005

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

People with rheumatoid arthritis not only have a higher risk of coronary heart disease than those in the general population, but they also have more silent, unrecognized heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. They are much less likely to complain of chest pain.

Increased heart disease risk may be present even before noticing rheumatoid arthritis, researchers said.

The researchers were surprised that the increase in cardiac events could not be explained by an increase in traditional heart disease risk factors such as elevated cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index, diabetes and alcohol abuse, said Hilal Maradit Kremers, MD, lead investigator and a research associate in Mayo's Dept. of Health Sciences Research.

When the rheumatoid arthritis patient saw a physician for other reasons and an electrocardiogram was ordered, it revealed past silent attacks.

"We suspect that the systemic inflammation that characterizes rheumatoid arthritis also promotes cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular death," said Sherine Gabriel, MD, the study's senior author and Mayo Clinic rheumatologist, epidemiologist and chair of the Dept. of Health Sciences Research.

The goal of our research is to disentangle the complex relationship between these two diseases," Dr. Gabriel said.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/02/21/hlbf0221.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn