Study: Patients with early RA who are consistently medicated do not have higher cardiovascular mortality risk

Patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis who consistently received medication for their arthritis were not at a higher risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, according to recently published data.Researchers studied registry data from all patients ages 18 years and older with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Finland diagnosed between 2000 and 2007. Mortality caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and comorbidities were identified and compared with the general population. Records of medication related to RA and CVD were extracted from the Social Insurance Institution. Patients were followed until 2008 or death.