What are the differences in atherosclerotic coronary heart disease between those with and without rheumatoid arthritis?
A study published in the Journal of Rheumatology in 2007 showed that patients with rheumatoid arthritis had a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease than those without the condition. The study also suggested that the risk factors associated with coronary heart disease were different between those with and without rheumatoid arthritis, with those with the condition having a higher risk of coronary heart disease even when other risk factors were taken into account. Additionally, the study indicated that when controlling for age, those with rheumatoid arthritis were at a higher risk of having more severe coronary heart disease than those without it.