Since the fifties, researchers have observed that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased mortality from cardiovascular disease. Patients with this form of rheumatism were approximately 50% more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease (relatively often fatal) compared with healthy peers of the same gender. PhD candidate Inger Meek of the University of Twente has performed research on multiple forms of rheumatic disease and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Patients with gout have a particularly high risk of cardiovascular disease.
In comparison with the rest of the population, there is a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with a rheumatic disease, not only in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as historical research indicates. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease: the immune system turns against its own body and inflammations in the joints develop. The research by Meek in a group of patients with various rheumatic diseases shows that gout patients have the most unfavourable risk profile of all the risk factors examined. Gout is a rheumatic disease in which uric acid crystals are deposited in the joints. This is because of poor metabolism in the body, with the result that uric acid accumulates.
Careful with painkillers
It has also been shown that a continuous use of ibuprofen as a painkiller doesn't seem to do much for the risk of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, the risk for patients with rheumatoid arthritis is actually lower when they are treated with the drug methotrexate. And, in contrast to the current guidelines, the drug naproxen (ananti-inflammatory painkiller) should be avoided in patients at risk who are also taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack. "Our study shows that the combination of naproxen with aspirin inhibits the anti-clotting effect of aspirin."
Screening of patients
The data for Meek's study comes from the cohort Arthritis Center Twente Cardiovascular Disease (CVD ACT). Since 2009, the patients at the Arthritis Center Twente have been screened for risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The results of this screening are stored anonymously in a database, and patients are regularly monitored for the occurrence of new cardiovascular disease and death.
Fatality rate is decreasing
Three years after the screening, the risk of rheumatoid arthritis patients from the ACT-CVD cohort getting cardiovascular disease for the first time did not increase compared to osteoarthritis patients, whereas this was the case in historical cohorts. Osteoarthritis is a rheumatic condition in which the cartilage deteriorates in quality and becomes thinner and softer. The proportion of cardiovascular disease with a fatal outcome was 6.9% in the ACT CVD cohort, a marked decrease compared to the 52.9% fatality rate in a similar cohort from 1998 with higher disease activity.
To Paris with the ReumaRun Foundation
After receiving her PhD, Inger Meek, who also chairs of the ReumaRunFoundation, will leave for Paris with four patients by bicycle. The final destination is a European rheumatism conference. Every year, Meek travels with a group of patients and colleague Nancy ter Avest-Schotmeijer by bike to the conference. "We want patients to have the positive experience of exercising together. A common challenge contributes to this." Meek also organizes sports activities for children with arthritis.
More information
Inger Meek's doctoral degree defence ceremony will take place on the UT campus on March 21 at 12:30 in the Waaier building. Her thesis supervisor is Prof. Mart van de Laar, PhD and assistant supervisor is Dr Harald Vonkeman. Inger Meek performed her research at the Arthritis Center Twente, Medisch Spectrum Twente and now works as a rheumatologist / researcher at Radboud UMC [University Medical Center] in the department of Rheumatic diseases. Her research has been incorporated in the IGS Institute of the University of Twente. Contact person press: drs. Janneke van den Elshout, advisor science information.
