Time Trends of Cardiovascular Disease in the General Population and Inflammatory Arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Cardiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major global health concern.
• While overall CVD mortality is declining, trends in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are debated.
• Inflammatory arthritis patients may have benefited from improved CVD care, evidenced by reduced fatality rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate secular trends in excess cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• To assess if patients with inflammatory arthritis have benefited from advancements in CVD treatment and prevention.
• To determine if a residual excess CV risk persists in inflammatory arthritis patients.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of secular trends in CV mortality and morbidity.
• Review of recent studies on CVD risk in inflammatory arthritis.
• Comparative analysis of CVD outcomes in RA patients versus the general population.

Main Results:

• Diverging results exist regarding excess CV risk trends in RA.
• Evidence suggests inflammatory arthritis patients have seen benefits from improved CVD management.
• Recent data indicate a continued, albeit potentially reduced, excess CV risk in these patients.

Conclusions:

• Improvements in CVD treatment and prevention have positively impacted inflammatory arthritis patients.
• Despite progress, a significant excess cardiovascular risk remains a concern for individuals with inflammatory arthritis.
• Further research is needed to fully understand and mitigate the persistent CV risk in this population.