Researchers have used a new mathematical model to show that people with rheumatoid arthritis age more rapidly than expected.

It has long been known that people with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop heart disease and die earlier than the rest of the population. In a new study, researchers at the Mayo Clinic have looked at the increased mortality of rheumatoid arthritis patients in more depth.

They compared the medical records of 393 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, noting their age at death and the underlying cause. They compared this data with that for people with similar birth dates and constructed a novel mathematical model for analysis. This showed that those with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from 'accelerated aging'. The researchers say that they age at 1.25 times the rate of the general population. In other words, ten years in the life of an average person is equivalent to 12.5 years in the life of a person with rheumatoid arthritis.

The findings underline the need for those with rheumatoid arthritis to take care of their total health. Cardiovascular risk, in particular, should be attended to. Doctors taking care of these patients should not focus solely on the rheumatoid arthritis - these patients are at risk of other conditions.

Source
American College of Rheumatology meeting 11th November 2006