1. Is the Calcium Score Useful for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients at Low or Intermediate Cardiovascular Risk?
- Author
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Jesson, Claire, Bohbot, Yohann, Soudet, Simon, Renard, Cedric, Sobhy Danial, Jean-Marc, Diep, Laetitia, Doussière, Marie, Tribouilloy, Christophe, and Goëb, Vincent
- Subjects
CORONARY artery calcification ,RHEUMATOID arthritis ,CARDIOVASCULAR diseases risk factors ,MYOCARDIAL ischemia ,COMPUTED tomography - Abstract
Cardiovascular disease, particularly myocardial infarction, is the leading cause of death of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The usefulness of the coronary artery calcification score (CACS), determined using cardiac computed-tomography (CT)-scan images, was assessed as a part of a cardiovascular work-up of RA patients at low or intermediate cardiovascular disease risk. This descriptive, cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted on patients with stable RA or that which is in remission. Each patient's work-up included a collection of cardiovascular risk factors, laboratory analyses, an electrocardiogram, a supra-aortic trunks (SATs) echo-Doppler test and a cardiac CT scan. The primary endpoint was to determine the frequency of patients with a CACS > 100, indicating notable atherosclerosis. Fifty patients were analyzed: mean ± standard deviation age was 53.7 ± 7.5 years, 82% women. The CACS exceeded 100 in 12 (24%) patients (11 were at intermediate risk) and 2 of them underwent angioplasty for silent myocardial ischemia. Cardiovascular risk was reclassified from intermediate to high for 5 patients. Age according to sex and smoking status were significantly associated with that increase; no association was found with RA characteristics or treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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