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Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Complications in People with SARDs
ARC_FR_Research_CardioComplication_425x296
Scientific Study Title:
Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke and Venous Thromboembolism in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (SARDs)
Start Date:
  • July 2013
End Date:
  • T.B.D.
Research Category
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J. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta, Research Team Member, Arthritis Research Canada
J. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta
Senior Scientist, Rheumatology, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCP
Hyon Choi, Research Team Member, Arthritis Research Canada
Hyon Choi
Senior Research Scientist, Rheumatology, MD, DrPH, FRCPC

Why did we do this research?

Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) are a group of rare diseases in which a person’s immune system malfunctions and attacks its own tissues. SARDs include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), and the systemic vasculitides (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, formerly known as Wegener’s, giant cell arteritis [GCA], polyarteritis nodosa, Takayasu’s arteritis).

Limited research has been done on the risk of cardiovascular complications, which include heart attack, stroke and venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the legs and/or lungs), in people with SARDs. Of those studies that have been done, most are from people seen in specialized clinics where they see the sickest patients; therefore, the exact risk of cardiovascular complications for people with SARDs from the general population is unknown.

The goal of our study is to determine if people with SARDs have an increased risk of developing complications like heart attack, stroke or venous thromboembolism. Changes in risk of developing these complications over time are also being explored.

 

What did we do?

Using anonymized administrative health data from the British Columbia Ministry of Health, we determined rates of cardiovascular complications in people with all types of SARDs.

The Research Team

Lianne Gulka, Arthritis Patient Advisory Board, ARC

Joyce Ma, Arthritis Patient Advisory Board, ARC

Janis McCaffrey, Consumer Advisory Committee, SARDs-ARC

Marilyn Mulldoon, Sjögren’s Society of Canada and Arthritis Patient Advisory Board, ARC

Alan Pemberton, Consumer Advisory Committee, SARDs-ARC

All patient collaborators provided feedback on the conception and design of the study, which was used in developing the funding proposal for this research. Additionally, they provided letters of support for the project, which assisted in obtaining funding.

 

Who Funded This Research?

Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, British Columbia Lupus Society

Related Publications

Carruthers E, Choi HK, Sayre EC, Aviña-Zubieta JA. Risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in individuals with polymyositis and dermatomyositis: A general population-based study. Ann Rheum Dis Sept 2014 doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-205800. [Epub ahead of print]

Aviña-Zubieta JA, Bhole VM, Amiri N, Sayre EC, Choi HK. The risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in giant cell arteritis: A population-based study. Ann Rheum Dis Sept 2014 doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-205665. [Epub ahead of print]

Amiri N, De Vera M, Choi HK, Sayre EC, Aviña-Zubieta JA. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease in giant cell arteritis: A general population-based study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2015 Aug 5. pii: kev262. [Epub ahead of print].

Aviña-Zubieta JA, Vostretsova K, De Vera M, Sayre EC, Choi HK. The risk of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: A general population-based study. Sem Arthritis Rheum 2015 Oct;45(2):195-201.

Rai S, Choi HK, Sayre EC, Aviña-Zubieta JA. Risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke in individuals with polymyositis and dermatomyositis: A general population-based study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2015 Sep 30. pii: kev336. [Epub ahead of print]

Schoenfeld SR, Choi HK, Sayre EC, Avina-Zubieta JA. The risk of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis in systemic sclerosis: a general population-based study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2015 Jul 20. doi: 10.1002/acr.22673. [Epub ahead of print]

Aviña-Zubieta JA, Man A, Yurkovich M, Huang K, Sayre EC, Choi HK. Early Cardiovascular Disease after the Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis. Am J Med 2015 Nov 18. pii: S0002-9343(15)01051-7.

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