Factors associated with risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide, population-based, case-control study

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACES) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We conducted a nationwide, population-based, case-control study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database for 2003-2013. From 2004 to 2012, we identified 108,319 newly diagnosed RA patients without previous MACEs, of whom 7,580 patients [7.0%] developed MACEs during follow-up. From these incident RA patients, we included 5,994 MACE cases and 1:4 matched 23,976 non-MACE controls for analysis. The associations of MACEs with comorbidities and use of anti-rheumatic medications within 1 year before the index date were examined using conditional logistic regression analyses. Results: Using multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis, the risk of MACE in RA patients was associated with use of golimumab [odd's ratio (OR), 0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.01-0.671, abatacept (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-0.931, hydroxychloroquine (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.991, methotrexate (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.64-0.811, cyclosporin (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.07-1.911, nonsteroidal anti-inflammation drugs (NSAIDs1 (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.27-1.461, antiplatelet agent (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 2.31-2.631, hypertension (without anti-hypertensive agents: OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.96-1.12; with anti-hypertensive agents: OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.36-1.591, diabetes (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.18-1.37), hyperlipidemia without lipid-lowering agents (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01-1.171, ischemic heart disease (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.10-1.311, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.23) in the parsimonious model. The risk of MACE in RA patients also increased markedly in participants younger than 65years with some comorbidities. Conclusions: This population-based case-control study revealed that the use of golimumab, abatacept, hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate were associated with a decreased risk of MACE development in newly diagnosed RA patients, while the use of cyclosporin, NSAIDs, and antiplatelet agents, and comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia without lipid-lowering agent therapy, ischemic heart disease, and COPD, were associated with an increased risk of MACE development in RA patients.