SAN FRANCISCO – Deaths from cardiovascular disease are declining in rheumatoid arthritis patients diagnosed after the year 2000, compared with previous decades, according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
The study researchers found significant improvement in the relative 10-year cardiovascular mortality rate, including coronary heart disease mortality, in people with RA in the years 2000-2007, compared with previous decades, explained lead investigator Dr. Elena Myasoedova, assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.,
In a video interview, Dr. Myasoedova talked about the trends identified in the study, which included 315 people who developed RA between 2000 and 2007, 498 people who developed RA in earlier years, and 813 people without RA.
Dr. Myasoedova had no relevant financial disclosures.