Risk for incident heart failure higher in patients with RA when adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a higher rate of heart failure subtypes, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in Arthritis Care & Research<\/em>.<\/p>\n Yumeko Kawano, M.D., from Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital in Boston, and colleagues evaluated the risk for heart failure subtypes in patients with RA compared to non-RA controls. The analysis included 1,445 patients with RA and 4,335 matched non-RA controls.<\/p>\n The researchers found that heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was the most common heart failure subtype in both groups (65 percent in RA versus 59 percent in non-RA). Patients with RA had a higher risk for incident heart failure than those without RA (hazard ratio, 1.79) when adjusting for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Patients with RA also had a higher rate of HFpEF (hazard ratio, 1.99). However, there was no statistical difference in the heart failure with reduced ejection fraction rate.<\/p>\n “The elevated risk was driven by HFpEF, supporting a role for inflammation in HFpEF and highlighting potential opportunities to address this excess risk in RA,” the authors write. “Since inflammation is modifiable with anti-inflammatory medications, further studies are needed to determine whether anti-inflammatory therapies have the potential to reduce risk of HFpEF in RA and other individuals with chronic inflammation.”<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n