Why does heart disease occur more frequently in people with rheumatoid arthritis?

Cardiovascular health in patients with inflammatory joint diseases: A genetic approach to understanding excess mortality

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition affecting the joints. People with RA are at a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) – when the arteries supplying the heart with blood get clogged up with fatty deposits. CHD causes around half of the early deaths of people with RA. Risk factors for CHD such as smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are well understood and are used routinely in screening tools to identify those most likely to develop CHD. However, these screening tools inaccurately predict the risk of CHD in people with RA. This is because the risk factors for CHD differ in people with RA. Currently, there is no reliable method to measure the risk of CHD in people with RA. However, our increased understanding of the genetic basis of many diseases means that genetic-based screening tools are showing promise for routine clinical use. In this project, Dr John Bowes and his team at the University of Manchester aim to develop a model to accurately predict the risk of CHD in people with RA using large volumes of genetic data. They will also perform statistical analyses to identify genetic factors that link CHD with RA and the underlying biological reasons as to why these two diseases frequently occur together. This research could help to prevent premature deaths of people with RA by increasing our understanding of the genetic basis of CHD in RA and including this information into an accurate tool to identify those most at risk.