WOMEN, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, may face up to double the heart attack risks of women without the condition, according to a recent study released.
Researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed health conditions of more than 114,000 people in a 20-year study, including 527 arthritis sufferers.
Their findings, reported in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association,” point to a possible correlation between rates of arthritis and heart attack risks in women.
“Both physicians and patients should recognize rheumatoid arthritis as a marker for increased heart attack risk,” said Daniel Solomon, a rheumatologist and epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s in Boston.
“Our study, the largest of its kind to date, illustrates the importance of considering more aggressive cardiac preventive measures in arthritic patients,” he said.
About 2.1 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women.
Courtesy: The News
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