Spondyloarthritis Linked to Cardiovascular Risk
Individuals with 3 subtypes of spondyloarthritis (SpA) are at an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stroke, according to the results of a recent study.
Recently, recommendations from the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) highlighted cardiovascular disease risk in SpA as a gap in knowledges requiring further study.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RELATED CONTENT
Fibromyalgia is Common in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis
Smoking Worsens Disease Severity in Axial Spondyloarthritis
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To investigate, researchers conducted a prospective nationwide cohort study including 6448 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, 16,063 with psoriatic arthritis, and 5190 with undifferentiated spondyloarthritis, as well as a control group of 266,435. Follow-up began on either January 1, 2006 or 6 months after first registered SpA diagnosis, ending at first ACS, stroke, or venous thromboembolism event, death, emigration, or on December 31, 2012.
Overall, standardized incidence rates for acute coronary syndrome were 4.3, 5.4, and 4.7 events per 1000 person-years for patients with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis, respectively. Standardized incidence rates for stroke were 5.4, 5.9, and 5.7 per 1000 person-years for ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis, respectively. Standardized incidence rates for venous thromboembolism were 3.6, 3.2, and 3.5 per 1000 person-years for ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis, respectively.
Standardized incidence rates for acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and venous thromboembolism were 3.2, 4.7, and 2.2, respectively, in the control group.
“Patients with [ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis] are at increased risk for [acute coronary syndrome] and stroke, which emphasizes the importance of identification of and intervention against cardiovascular risk factors in SpA patients. These findings also support the new EULAR recommendations for CVD risk management which include recommendation of CVD risk assessment at least once every 5 years for [ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis] patients. Increased alertness for [venous thromboembolism] is warranted in patients with SpA.”
—Michael Potts
Reference:
Bengtsson K, Forsblad-d’Elia H, Lie E, et al. Are ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events? A prospective nationwide population-based cohort study [published online May 18, 2017]. Arthritis Res Ther. doi:10.1186/s13075-017-1315-z.