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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Evaluation of Changes in Hydration and Body Cell Mass with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis after Exercise Program for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
07:44

Evaluation of Changes in Hydration and Body Cell Mass with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis after Exercise Program for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Published on: July 14, 2023

Cardiovascular disease incidence among aging patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Results from the Canadian

Yasaman Hajiesmaeili1, Osvaldo Espin Garcia1, M Reza Azarpazhooh2

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases : NMCD
|June 19, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Key risk factors include inflammation, certain medications, lifestyle choices, and comorbidities, particularly in women and lower socioeconomic groups.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  • Understanding CVD incidence and risk factors in RA patients is crucial for public health.
  • Canadian middle-aged and older adults with RA require specific cardiovascular risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine CVD incidence in middle-aged and older Canadians with and without RA.
  • To identify potential risk factors contributing to CVD in the RA population.
  • To determine if specific demographic factors modify the RA-CVD association.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) between 2011 and 2021.
  • Calculated incidence rate ratios (IRR) to compare CVD rates between RA and non-RA groups.
  • Employed Cox proportional hazards regression models to identify CVD risk factors, with stratification by sex, age, and education.

Main Results:

  • RA patients exhibited significantly higher CVD incidence (IRR=1.69).
  • Significant CVD risk factors included RA, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), certain disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), male sex, older age, low physical activity, smoking, poor sleep, diabetes, hypertension, and mood disorders.
  • Stronger RA-CVD associations were observed in females, individuals under 65, and those with lower education.

Conclusions:

  • This study confirms an elevated CVD risk in RA patients.
  • Identified high-risk subgroups: females, younger individuals, and those with lower socioeconomic status.
  • Emphasizes the need for targeted prevention and management strategies for vulnerable RA populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseaseCohort studyComorbidityEpidemiologyIncidenceRheumatoid arthritisRisk factors

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