❤ What happens when patients with rheumatic disease have a heart attack?
These diseases have long been considered a risk factor for more serious heart attacks. Now, researchers have investigated how these patients actually fare – and the findings challenge what many have believed.
The picture shows Eirik Ikdahl, at the REMEDY Center at Diakonhjemmet Hospital. He has researched heart attacks in patients with rheumatic disease. Photo: Nicolas Tourrenc, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
Patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. It has been commonly believed that patients with such diseases also have worse outcomes from heart attacks than others.
“We found no signs of that,” says Eirik Ikdahl, a researcher at the REMEDY Center and a physician at Diakonhjemmet Hospital.
He says that they wanted to find out whether there was any truth to the assumption that these patients experience more severe heart attacks and worse treatment than the general population.
Infarction with and without arthritis
To find the answer, the researchers analyzed data from around 37,000 people who had their first heart attack between 2013 and 2017. Among these, over 1,700 had rheumatic diseases.
– We looked at the diseases rheumatoid arthritis (arthritis), axial spondyloarthritis (formerly called Bechterew's disease) and psoriatic arthritis, explains Ikdahl.
They investigated whether these patients experienced more heart damage, poorer treatment, or lower survival than those without arthritis.
The answer was in the heart records
In Norway, almost all heart attacks are registered. The researchers were therefore able to use data from the entire Norwegian population to look at heart attacks in people with rheumatic diseases compared to people without such diseases.
– The results challenge what we previously believed – and that is really good news, says Eirik Ikdahl.
Safety for patients
He believes the results are important – not only professionally, but also for the patients.
– This gives reason for reassurance. Although people with rheumatic diseases are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease over time, it does not appear that the heart attack itself becomes worse if it first occurs.
This is important knowledge for both patients and therapists.
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What is a heart attack?
A heart attack occurs when a blood clot blocks one of the heart's coronary arteries, causing part of the heart muscle to not get enough oxygen. If blood supply is not restored quickly, it can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle.
Typical symptoms:
- Pressing or squeezing chest pain
- Pain that radiates to the arms, neck, jaw, or back
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweat
- Nausea or dizziness
NB: Women, the elderly and people with diabetes may have more diffuse symptoms.
Treatment:
Prompt treatment is essential. This may include clot-busting medications or a procedure called angioplasty (blockage) to open the blocked artery.
Complications:
Without prompt treatment, a heart attack can lead to serious complications such as heart rhythm disturbances, heart failure, or cardiac arrest.
Prevention:
Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart attack.
