Relationship of rheumatoid arthritis and coronary artery disease in the Korean population: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with coronary artery diseases (CAD). Previous studies of the association between RA and CAD were reported mainly in non-Asian groups. We aimed to examine the prevalence of RA and the relationship between RA and CAD in South Korea. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study by using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which collected data for four years between 2008 and 2012. A total of 25,828 eligible participants were included. To balance the distribution of baseline characteristics, we used propensity scorematching. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed and we calculated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the odds of the participants with RA on CAD prevalence. Results: The prevalence of RA in Korea from 2008 to 2012 was 0.6% and RA was predominant among elderly women. The prevalence of CAD in patients with RA was significantly higher than in general population. After propensity score-matching to balance the confounding factors, RA was significantly associated with CAD (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.15-7.68, P = 0.02). Conclusions: The prevalence of RA in South Korea was comparable to the worldwide data, and the presence of CAD in RA patients was more than twofold .

Incidence of congestive heart failure in rheumatoid arthritis: a review of literature and meta‐regression analysis

“…For example, there have been reports of an increased risk of myocardial infarction via worsening coronary atherosclerosis in women with RA, even in the absence of CVD risk factors 8 . It has further been suggested that CVD sequelae, such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, pericardial disease, and left ventricular failure, remain the most common cause of death in patients with RA 9–11 …”

“…8 It has further been suggested that CVD sequelae, such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, pericardial disease, and left ventricular failure, remain the most common cause of death in patients with RA. [9][10][11] Of the CVD manifestations of RA, heart failure (HF) appears to be one of the most important contributors to the excess mortality risk among patients. 5,[12][13][14] Pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in HF appear to be accentuated because of a chronic inflammatory state in RA patients.…”

Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease Among Lebanese Women: A Case–Control Study

“… 63 Other evidence also suggests that this relation is biologically plausible, as daily back pain was associated with reduced quality of life, mobility and longevity and increased risk of coronary events in elderly women. 64 Relation between rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease is described, 65 , 66 but very few studies focus on commonplace joint pain. 67 A previous study reported that over half (56%) of CHD patients suffered from musculoskeletal conditions, with joint pain accounting for 64.4% of them.…”

Association of rheumatoid arthritis and high sodium intake with major adverse cardiovascular events: a cross-sectional study from the seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“… 18 35 A recent study by Jeong et al using the 2010–2012 KNHANES data reported an increased risk for myocardial infarction or angina (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.96) in patients with RA; however, their analyses were not adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and DM. 33 Subsequently, Lee et al 36 showed an increased prevalence of coronary artery diseases (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.15 to 7.68) using propensity-score matching from the KNHANES 2008–2012 data; however, they only considered coronary artery disease.…”