Heart Disease Deaths Declining Among Those With Rheumatoid Arthritis

In the study on rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease, researchers looked at heart disease deaths within 10 years of rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis among two groups of people: 315 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis from 2000 to 2007 and 498 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the 1980s and 1990s.

Opioid medication use is significantly higher among rheumatoid arthritis patients than among others, and in general, isn't related to disease severity. These are also rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that are frequently associated with that disease and that alone.

Up until now, any evidence of diet playing any role in rheumatoid arthritis developing has been both conflicting and inconsistent, said researchers. It is said the incidents of heart diseases rise by two times in RA patients.

Additionally, an inflammation which occurs in the heart sac and its wall (the pericardium) is a major cause of heart failure. Plaque is dense clump of cholesterol, calcium and other organic compounds which can block arteries and severely interfere with blood flow. Also, sometimes the inflammation aggravates breaking of plaque chip which enter the blood stream to obstruct narrow arteries. All these obstructions can lead to a heart stroke or heart failure. This may be manifested through simple symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath, or more specific symptoms like the swelling of lower legs.

One of the best ways to protect the hearth of RA patients is to periodically check for inflammations.

This study involved considering information from 93,859 women without rheumatoid arthritis who completed dietary questionnaires every four years between 1991 and 2011.

According to the findings, those who ate a typical "North American" diet - high in red and processed meat, refined grains, high-fat candies and deep fried food - were more likely to develop RA than those who ate a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish.

Researchers found that the rate of heart-disease-related deaths decreased from 7.9 percent in the 1980s and 1990s to 2.8 percent in the early 2000s.

Dr. Elena Myasoedova, lead author of the study, believes that further research should be done to confirm why cardiac deaths among patients with rheumatoid arthritis have dropped, but factors such as improved treatment for rheumatoid and cardiovascular diseases, early screening for heart problems and more attention to the heart health of patients have indeed influenced the drop.

The guidelines are set up to help people to make better food choices and to by physically active to keep a healthy weight and lower their risk of developing chronic disease.

The researchers noted that the study is a good sign for patients with rheumatoid arthritis since the condition has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.