Key result
In normotensive patients with rheumatoid arthritis, left ventricular systolic dysfunction was independently associated with all-cause hospitalization (HR 2.37; 95% CI 1.24-4.53; p=0.009).
Cohort (n=388)
Hazard Ratio: 2.37 (95% CI 1.24–4.53)
p-value: p=0.009
Normotensive patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a significantly higher prevalence of occult left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which strongly predicts midterm cardiovascular and all-cause hospitalization.
LV systolic dysfunction signals higher hospitalization risk in normotensive RA; hypothesis-generating, requires prospective validation before screening or practice change.
BACKGROUND: Due to chronic inflammatory status, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are exposed to changes in left ventricular (LV) geometry and function. We assessed prevalence, factors associated with, and prognostic role of concentric LV geometry and systolic dysfunction (LVSD) detected by echocardiography in a large cohort of patients with RA and normal blood pressure. HYPOTHESIS: Changes in LV geometry and function are widely detectable in normotensive patients with RA analyzed in primary prevention. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed 194 normotensive RA patients without overt cardiac disease recruited between March 2014 and May 2016, compared with 194 non-RA matched controls. Relative wall thickness >0.43 defined concentric LV geometry. LVSD was defined as impaired global longitudinal strain (GLS). The prespecified study endpoints were all-cause hospitalization and hospitalization for cardiovascular cause. RESULTS: The 194 normotensive subjects (mean age, 54 years; 63% female; RA duration 13 years) had a prevalence of LV concentric geometry 5-fold higher and LVSD 5-fold higher than non-RA matched controls. Body mass index, LVSD, and diastolic dysfunction were associated with concentric LV geometry, while worsening renal function and older age were associated with LVSD. LVSD was independently related to the study endpoints (HR 2.37 [1.24-4.53], p = 0.009, for all-causes hospitalization and HR 6.60 [1.47-29.72], p = 0.01 for cardiovascular hospitalization). CONCLUSIONS: Despite normotensive status, a consistent proportion of RA patients analyzed in primary prevention have cardiac abnormalities detectable by echocardiography. LVSD is a strong prognosticator of adverse outcome at midterm period in these patients.
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Cioffi et al. (2018) conducted a cohort in Rheumatoid arthritis (n=388). Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) vs. Absence of LVSD was evaluated on All-cause hospitalization (HR 2.37, 95% CI 1.24-4.53, p=0.009). In normotensive patients with rheumatoid arthritis, left ventricular systolic dysfunction was independently associated with all-cause hospitalization (HR 2.37; 95% CI 1.24-4.53; p=0.009).
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