Rheumatoid arthritis can you die

Those patients who do develop infection require early assessment and intervention as the risk of atypical infection and adverse outcome is high. Another area highlighted in the study published in this month's issue relates to the inadequate recording of RA as a contributory or causative factor on death certificates.

This observation has been reported for 20 yrs [ 16 ], and the lack of progress over this time highlights the need for all primary and secondary care physicians to recognize the systemic and potentially severe nature of the disorder. Similar issues have been reported with the under-recording of diabetes as a contributory factor in deaths in patients with this condition. Indeed, RA has been compared with diabetes through its association with premature demise as a result of accelerated atherosclerosis, high incidence of renal failure and increased risk of infection, several of the factors confirmed as contributing to death in the ERAS report.

Perhaps rheumatologists should consider revising the approach adopted in the routine assessment of RA patients by using an annual review form to include the systemic aspects of the disease in addition to its articular manifestations. This could be roughly analogous to the approach taken by diabetologists for decades, which has helped to reduce mortality through regularly recording of predictors such as blood lipid profiles, blood pressure, hepatic and renal function, together with a global measurement of disease activity.

In diabetes this is usually HbA1c, but with the advent of the Disease Activity Score DAS , which is now in common use in rheumatology clinics for the identification and assessment of patients who may qualify for anti-TNF treatment, we have the opportunity to use this as our own analogous global measurement of severity in all patients with RA.

This approach might go some way to identifying and protecting those RA patients at greatest risk of premature death through reversible causes, and reinforces the need for RA patients to have ongoing specialist input——in contrast to the Government's latest edict suggesting care for such patients could be undertaken in the community.

Much progress has already been made lately in the management of RA but with greater attention to detail, combined with improved partnerships with patients, primary care physicians and secondary care colleagues; the next decade may bring further reductions in mortality.

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Article Navigation. Close mobile search navigation Article Navigation. Volume Article Contents References. What kills patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Kelly , C. Oxford Academic. Cite Cite C. Renal insufficiency including amyloidosis increased markedly in the latter half Frequency of infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, and basilar impression remain unchanged in all course.

Although our study are case-analysis in only one institute and further study will be necessary, the accumulation of the data investigated by rheumatologist will be helpful to grasp correct cause of death in patients with RA. Cleveland Clinic. Rheumatoid arthritis: management and treatment. Updated November 17, Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Updated May 7, Updated December 23, The role of diet in rheumatoid arthritis. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.

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Table of Contents. Life Expectancy Factors. Rheumatoid Arthritis Support and Resources. Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis—Effectively. Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Puolakka, K. No increased mortality in incident cases of rheumatoid arthritis during the new millennium.

Provan, S. Trends in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with incident rheumatoid arthritis: a year follow-up matched case-cohort study.

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Stene, L. Langhammer, A. The HUNT study: participation is associated with survival and depends on socioeconomic status, diseases and symptoms. BMC Med. Download references. Department of Rheumatology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, St. You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar.

Correspondence to Vibeke Videm. Reprints and Permissions. Houge, I. Sci Rep 10, Download citation. Received : 20 November Accepted : 13 February Published : 27 February Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:.

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Download PDF. Subjects Medical research Rheumatology. Abstract Persons with rheumatoid arthritis RA or diabetes have increased risk of cardiovascular disease CVD and higher death rates compared to the general population. Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis RA is a systemic inflammatory disease causing inflammation in the synovia.

Materials and Methods All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Figure 1. Full size image. Results Study population In total 67, participants had complete data for at least one time point, i. Table 1 Baseline characteristics — cases with complete data a,b,c. Full size table. Table 2 Disease-specific baseline variables a,b,c. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. Discussion The main finding of this study was that both diabetes and RA were associated with increased mortality rates.

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