The relative risk of myocardial infarction was roughly twice as high in IBD patients as that of controls without IBD (5.9% vs. 3.5%), Dr. Panhwar said. That risk was highest in patients aged 20-25 years, with a relative risk of 20.5, occurring mostly in women, and decreased to 1.8 by age 60-64 (both P less than .001).
In addition, IBD patients tended to have a higher prevalence of common cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and smoking.
The IBD patients’ higher prevalence of smoking – 21%, vs. 12% of the controls – is not a surprise, said Martha Gulati, MD, who moderated the briefing. Many people with IBD smoke, particularly those with Crohn’s disease, because it seems to reduce the number of flares, said Dr. Gulati, chief of cardiology at the University of Arizona, Phoenix.
The findings may be affected by the increased inflammation often observed in younger individuals with IBD and younger women with IBD, who may not present with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the researchers noted.
“Clinicians who care for patients with traditional cardiovascular risk factors who also have IBD should recognize IBD as an independent risk factor as well, and treat appropriately,” Dr. Panhwar said.
Dr. Panhwar had no relevant financial conflicts to disclose.
SOURCE: Panhwar M. ACC 18.