Early DMARD Therapy Averts Cardiovascular Risk in RA Save

A Finnish early RA register studied 14,878 incident RA patients from 2000-2008 and identified 1157 deaths. Patients receiving DMARDs and MTX had lower mortality rates. The standardized mortality ratio for the entire cohort was reduced (0.57, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.62). Along with traditional CV risk factors, the presence of RF and the use of glucocorticoids was associated with a higher risk of CV death, whereas the use of methotrexate was associated with a lower risk. Dr. Len Calabrese provides commentary, stating that studies like this "tells us 'treat the RA' for cardiovascular risk reduction and provides continued evidence for what most believe – methotrexate is beneficial and glucocorticoids are bad for this complication."