Open AccessHigh prevalence of occult heart disease in normotensive patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Cioffi Giovanni,
Ognibeni Federica,
Dalbeni Andrea,
Giollo Alessandro,
Orsolini Giovanni,
Gatti Davide,
Rossini Maurizio,
Viapiana Ombretta
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.22926
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , rheumatoid arthritis , diastole , body mass index , cohort , clinical endpoint , heart failure , blood pressure , randomized controlled trial
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.