Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition, known to be associated with increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Aspirin and statins are among the most effective treatments for preventing and/or treating coronary artery disease, says Dr. Krishnan. Do they also mitigate the increased risk in patients with RA?

Two prospective studies were reported in the 1970s, from the Mayo Clinic and the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital in Finland, which looked at aspirin use and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with RA. The first study showed a non-significant benefit in men; and the doses used in the majority of patients in this study were higher, over a gram per day. The Finnish study showed no relationship between myocardial infarction and aspirin use in RA.

A randomized double-blind crossover study from Cambridge, UK, (Mäki-Petäjä KM et al. JACC 2007), looked at surrogate cardiovascular endpoints in RA patients taking ezetimibe or simvastatin. These results suggested that the medications may have anti-inflammatory effects and may improve vascular function in RA.

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After viewing this presentation the participant will be able to:
- Identify the potential relationship between aspirin use, statin use and coronary artery disease risk among patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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