FROM ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
Most newly diagnosed psoriatic arthritis patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease that is markedly underestimated by the Framingham Risk Score, according to findings from a retrospective, population-based, cohort study.
The mean Framingham Risk Score in 126 patients with psoriatic arthritis who were aged 30 years or older and who had no prior cardiovascular disease (CVD) history, was 9.7% during the first 10 years of follow-up. However, the 10-year cumulative incidence of CVD events was nearly double that at 17% (standardized incidence ratio, 1.80), Dr. Floranne C. Ernste of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and her colleagues reported (Arthritis Care Res. 2015 Jan. 7 [ doi:10.1002/acr.22536 ]).
Age-based analysis showed that the CVD risk in these patients was consistently twice as high as predicted by the FRS beginning after age 40 years, the authors noted.
The findings underscore the importance of CVD risk assessment in patients with psoriatic arthritis but suggest that the Framingham Risk Score may not be applicable in such patients, the investigators said, adding that “This study serves to illustrate the important need for further research to focus on the development of CVD risk assessment tools specific to psoriatic arthritis patients.”
The findings also suggest that aggressive therapy may be warranted early in the course of psoriatic arthritis to “attenuate the long-term burden of CVD,” they said.
This study was supported by the Rochester Epidemiology Project and by Amgen. Dr. Ernste reported having no disclosures.
