He has received the Scandinavian Rheumatology Research Award for his work in mapping and preventing additional diseases in patients with rheumatic diseases. Ikdahl is a physician at Diakonhjemmet Hospital and a researcher at the REMEDY Center.
Caption: Eirik Ikdahl believes the award provides personal motivation and marks that comorbidity is taken seriously. Photo: Nicolas Tourrenc/Diakonhjemmet Hospital
The award was presented during the 40th Scandinavian Rheumatology Congress (SCR) in Malmö.
From curious student to renowned researcher 
Ikdahl's interest in comorbidity began in 2013, when he was a medical student. It struck him that many patients with rheumatoid arthritis had undetected risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
This was the start of his doctorate: He investigated the risk of cardiovascular disease in more than 3,600 patients with inflammatory joint disease at 11 clinics in Norway. The work revealed major gaps in prevention and led to seven scientific articles.
He says that the project showed how difficult it can be to put new research into practice.
– I was fascinated by how much could be done better to prevent heart disease in patients with inflammatory joint diseases, says Ikdahl.
He emphasizes that if the knowledge is to benefit patients, support from management, committed employees, good planning and enough resources are needed to implement the changes.
Since then, he has had a broad research career, which has included international registry studies, development of risk calculators, and analyses of biomarkers for cardiovascular disease.
Developing a clinic for comorbidity at Diakonhjemmet Hospital
After several years on the path to becoming a pulmonary specialist, Ikdahl returned to rheumatology in 2022. Since 2024, he has been a postdoctoral fellow at the REMEDY Center, where he is deputy leader of the work package on comorbidity.
He has been given responsibility for building a new comorbidity clinic. Here, patients with inflammatory joint diseases will receive a systematic health check for additional diseases such as cardiovascular disease, lung disease, infections, osteoporosis and diabetes.
– The goal is to provide patients with a comprehensive offer and at the same time collect data that can give us completely new knowledge, explains Ikdahl.
He adds that he is grateful that Diakonhjemmet Hospital tirelessly searches for better solutions to meet the needs of its patients in the best possible way.
Future-oriented research
In addition to his work in the clinic, he conducts research that challenges established truths in cardio-rheumatology. Among other things, he has used "target trial emulation". It is a method that allows researchers to analyze health records almost as if the patients were randomly distributed, that is, as in a randomized controlled trial. In this way, one can get more reliable answers about how treatments work in practice.
Using this method, Ikdahl has studied how different medications affect the risk of heart failure in patients with inflammatory joint diseases. He also participates in projects on lung disease, genetics, and lifestyle.
The mentoring role is also important to him. He supervises new doctoral students in both heart and lung disease in patients with rheumatic disorders.
– I hope more young researchers find joy in researching additional diseases. The field has great potential to improve the lives of patients, says Ikdahl.
Inspiration for further work
The prize in Malmö is one of five awarded to researchers from the Nordic countries. For Ikdahl, it is both a personal milestone and a sign that the field is growing in importance.
– The fact that this is being highlighted internationally shows that comorbidity is being taken seriously. The award provides inspiration to continue building research in the area, he says.
About the Scandinavian Rheumatology Research Award
The award is presented by the Scandinavian Rheumatology Research Foundation (SRF), which is affiliated with the Scandinavian Rheumatology Association.
The purpose of the SRF is to support research and promote information and knowledge in rheumatology and related fields. This is done primarily by running the journal "Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology" and by awarding research awards to researchers in rheumatology in the Nordic region.
The awards are presented in connection with the Scandinavian Congress of Rheumatology (SCR), which is held every other year.
One winner will be awarded from each of the Nordic countries, and the prize is NOK 100,000.
