Myocardial infarction & C-reactive protein levels among Mexican adults with arthritis: Findings from the Mexican Health and Aging Study

Studies of adult populations in high-income countries have found an association between arthritis and myocardial infarction (MI) due to high levels of systemic inflammation. Our objectives were to examine the association between arthritis and MI among Mexican adults and to assess the mediating effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) on this association.

Data came from the 2012, 2015, and 2018 observation waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Our sample included 11,707 participants aged 50 and older with no prior MI before 2012. We used self-reported information for arthritis, joint pain, medication use, and limitations to daily activities in 2012. Logistic regression was used to model the association between arthritis and self-reported MI in 2015 or 2018. We used a sub-sample of 1602 participants to assess the mediating effect of CRP.

In the full sample, participants with arthritis that limited their daily activities had higher odds of MI than participants with no arthritis (OR = 1.40; 95 % CI = 1.04-1.88). In the sub-sample, arthritis that limited daily activities was associated with higher mean CRP (5.2 mg/dL; 95 % CI = 4.10-6.21) than arthritis with no limitations (3.5 mg/dL; 95 % CI = 2.93-4.01). However, CRP levels had a small mediating effect, and the relationship between arthritis with physical limitations and MI remained statistically significant.

Mexican adults with arthritis that limits their daily activities are at an increased risk for MI. Continued research is needed to identify factors that contribute to this increased risk.