Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased incidence of diastolic dysfunction, which may further raise their already high risk for congestive heart failure, a meta-analysis suggested.
Patients with RA have double the incidence of heart failure compared with the larger population, and this finding has prompted interest in determining the origins of heart failure in these patients.
Rheumatology
Death Rate Still High in RA Vasculitis
From 1988 to 2000, the average annual incidence of this condition was 9.1 per million (95% CI 6.8 to 12), falling to 3.9 per million (95% CI 2.3 to 6.2) in the subsequent decade, according to Eleana Ntatsaki, PhD, from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in Norwich, England, and colleagues.
In the earlier and later time periods, 1-year mortality rates were 14%, and 12%, respectively.
But 5-year mortality rates for systemic rheumatoid vasculitis were 51% and 60%, respectively, despite current therapeutic strategies such as treat-to-target, she said.
via Medical News: Death Rate Still High in RA Vasculitis – in Meeting Coverage, BSR from MedPage Today.
Ethnic Group Differences in SLE
Medical News: CV Events Early in Minorities With SLE – in Rheumatology, Lupus from MedPage Today
Again a reminder for our readers: we do not use ethnic backgrounds when classifying mortality risk.
But do read this article and tuck it away in your memory bank.
lifeunderwriter.net 