Study highlights importance of heart health for RA patients
People with rheumatoid arthritis should take particular care of their heart health as the joint disease has been found to greatly increase the risk of heart disease.
Scientists studied 353 people with rheumatoid arthritis and found that their risk of cardiovascular disease is double that found in the general population.
This means that the effect of rheumatoid arthritis on heart risk is comparable to that presented by type-2 diabetes.
Dr Mike Peters, one of the researchers at the VU University Medical Centre and the Jan can Breeman Institute in The Netherlands, commented: "These two studies suggest that rheumatoid arthritis should be considered an important cardiovascular disease risk factor."
The expert added that healthcare professionals who are treating people with the disease should be aware of this elevated risk of heart disease "and advise their patients to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle and be alert to the early signs and symptoms" of heart disease.
The findings were presented at EULAR 2008, the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism.
People with rheumatoid arthritis should take particular care of their heart health as the joint disease has been found to greatly increase the risk of heart disease.
