RA meds and CV risks..... | Arthritis Information
http://www.arthritistoday.org/treatments/drug-guide/drug-news-and-updates/general-medications/rheumatoid-arthritis-drugs-heart.phpMy view is that when the next one gets me it gets me.
No use worrying about all the research stating this will harm you, this is good for you.
Just adds to one's anxiety if we let all the gumf get to you.
Live your life now and stop worrying what this might or might not do.
By law, the drug companies have to list every single thing that might possibly be a side effect of whatever med. we take. The docs now hve to do the same before they operate. A bit scary, and I freaked out when I was first dx'd and one of the meds prescribed was penacillamine which came with a v. long and disturbing list of possible side effects
Lorraine
This article is just a quick compilation of studies that have been completed in the last few years. If you have RA then a cardiology workup should be ordered by your RD. It appears that RA has more serious cardiology effects than the meds that we take. A side effect of Inflammation can be heart issues and unless your RA is controlled or you're in remission then inflammation is still affecting your body including your heart/lungs. I fear the disease more than the meds. I've said that time and time again. Lindy [QUOTE=LinB]This article is just a quick compilation of studies that have been completed in the last few years. If you have RA then a cardiology workup should be ordered by your RD. It appears that RA has more serious cardiology effects than the meds that we take. A side effect of Inflammation can be heart issues and unless your RA is controlled or you're in remission then inflammation is still affecting your body including your heart/lungs. I fear the disease more than the meds. I've said that time and time again. Lindy [/QUOTE]
How right you are Lindy!
Rheumatoid Arthritis And Risk Of Heart Attack:
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients face a two-fold increased risk of suffering a Myocardial Infarction (MI, heart attack) versus the general population, which is comparable to the increased risk of MI seen in diabetes patients, according to results of a new study presented at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.
In this Danish, nationwide, 10 year study, RA and diabetes patients were directly compared to assess their individual risk of having an MI over time. In those patients that developed RA, the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) of experiencing a MI was increased to 1.65 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.46-1.86), comparable to the increased risk of MI seen in patients developing diabetes mellitus (IRR 1.73 95% CI (1.68-1.79)). Data was further analysed to examine increased risk in certain age groups and researchers found that the risk of MI was increased six-fold in women with RA younger than 50 years (IRR 6.01 95% CI (3.62-9.99)) comparable to diabetic women in the same age range (IRR 6.13 95% CI (4.99-7.54)). Overall, the risk of MI in patients with RA and diabetes was similar for male patients at IRR 1.66 (1.39-1.98) and 1.59 (1.53-1.66) respectively.
"While we already know that RA is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, our data highlight that the increased risk of a heart attack faced by RA patients is of a similar magnitude as that faced by diabetes patients, who in contrast to RA patients are routinely considered for intensive cardiovascular risk management," said Dr. Jesper Lindhardsen, Department of Cardiology, Gentofte University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark, and lead author of the study. "This study underlines the importance of implementing EULAR recommendations advocating early detection and management of cardiovascular risk factors, as well as providing sufficient RA treatment in order to reduce the significant burden associated with cardiovascular disease co-morbidity and mortality."
hands down, you are so right ladies!!
fear the disease.. it's worse than the meds!!
[QUOTE=babs10]hands down, you are so right ladies!!
fear the disease.. it's worse than the meds!!
[/QUOTE]
I think so too Babs!
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