ROME – Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a significantly increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure, according to a nationwide Danish study, Usman Khalid, MD, reported at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology.
As a chronic systemic inflammatory disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with increased risk of a variety of comorbid conditions, including cardiovascular disease. But RA’s relationship specifically with heart failure hasn’t previously been looked at in the comprehensive way that’s possible in Denmark, where linked national registries enable researchers to follow health issues in the entire population from birth to death, noted Dr. Khalid of the University of Copenhagen.
Dr. Usman Khalid
In an analysis adjusted for age, sex, and calendar year, individuals with RA were 83% more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure than were the non-RA Danish population. In a fully adjusted analysis that controlled for those potential confounders as well as comorbid conditions, smoking, alcohol intake, socioeconomic status, and prescription medications, patients with RA remained at a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 38% increased risk of heart failure hospitalization.
Further studies are planned to determine the underlying mechanisms of this association, Dr. Khalid added.
He reported having no financial conflicts of interest regarding this study, which was supported by an unrestricted grant from Leo Pharma.