From: Myocardial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis: epidemiology and pathogenesis
Associated with CHF risk in the general population | Shown to be comparatively over-represented in rheumatoid arthritis |
---|---|
Clinical risk factors | |
   Systemic hypertension | +/- |
   Coronary atherosclerosis/myocardial infarction | +++ |
   Diabetes | - |
   Valvular heart disease | + |
   Intrinsic pulmonary disease | +(+) |
   Sleep apnea/sleep-disordered breathing | +(?) |
   Smoking | + |
   Obesity | + |
Echocardiographic predictors | |
   Asymptomatic left ventricular enlargement | + |
   Increased left ventricular mass | + |
   Asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction | (+)/- |
   Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction | +++ |
Biochemical risk markers | |
   Cardiac natriuretic hormones | + |
   Hyperhomocysteinemia | + |
   Inflammatory cytokines | +++ |
Medications | |
   Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | ++ |
Rare causes of CHF in the general population | |
   Myocardial nodules | + |
   Restrictive pericarditis | +(+) |
   Coronary arteritis | + |