Arthritis Care Res

Rheumatoid arthritis tied to increased heart failure risk

December 12, 2024

Study design: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 1,445 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 4,335 matched non-RA controls from two large academic centers. Incident heart failure (HF) and its subtypes—HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)—were identified using electronic health records.

Results: Over the study period, RA patients had a higher incidence of HF compared with controls, with an adjusted HR of 1.79. HFpEF was the most common subtype in both groups, but RA patients had a significantly higher rate of HFpEF (HR, 1.99) compared with controls. There was no significant difference in the rate of HFrEF between RA patients and controls.

Impact on clinical practice: These findings highlight the increased risk of HF, particularly HFpEF, in RA patients, suggesting a role for inflammation in HFpEF. Authors conclude that CV health should be carefully monitored in RA patients.

Source:

Kawano Y, et al. (2024, December 9). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Risk of Incident Heart Failure and Heart Failure Subtypes in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39651569/