|
| Andhra Pradesh ~ India ~ International ~ City ~ Entertainment ~ Business ~ Bullion ~ Forex ~ Sports ~ Technology ~ Health ~ Features |
| Lung Cancer ~ Lung Cancer ~ Breast Cancer ~ Heart attack ~ All Health Topics |
|
Home
/ Health News / 2008 / March 2008 / March 6, 2008 Arthritis drugs may lower heart attacks, strokes risk |
Diabetic men have similar long-term mortality risks as males with heart disease
Childhood disease unlikely to have killed Travoltas son, say docs
Indian-origin researcher identifies gene that predicts heart attack risk
Sack lunches may not provide adequate nutrients to preschooler
Packing lunch for your child might not be a good idea, for a new study has found that sack lunches may not regularly provide adequate nutrients for the growth and development of young children. ANI
Health-monitoring system helps maintain older adults well-being
Many older adults want to remain active and independent for as long as possible. Now, researchers from University of Missouri suggest that installing health monitoring system can help keep check on the health of the elderly and ensure their privacy. ANI
New drug shows potential to treat angina, other cardiac problems
A compound, designed to prevent chest pains in heart patients, could act as a drug to treat angina and possibly other cardiac pathologies, according to a study on animals. ANI
An international team of researchers has found that drugs prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis may lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Washington, Mar 6 : An international team of researchers has found that drugs prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis may lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The study, by researchers in Spain, Argentina, Europe, and the USA, was led by by Antonio Naranjo of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
As a part of the research, the boffins analyzed data from the QUEST-RA (Quantitative Patient Questionnaires in Standard Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis) study that included 4,363 patients from 48 sites in 15 countries.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a known risk factor for hardening of the arteries and so can lead to stroke and heart attacks occurring in sufferers ten years earlier than in people without the condition.
However, earlier studies have shown that treating rheumatoid arthritis with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate, may reduce this risk.
The new study by the international team of researchers has quantified this risk reduction.
After controlling for age, sex, disease activity, and traditional risk factors such as lack of exercise, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels, the boffins found that the risk correlated strongly with the use of drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
"Our study provides further support of the influence of both traditional and RA specific risk factors in the development of cardiovascular events, especially heart attack" the researchers conclude.
"As assessed by this study, the risk was lower with the prolonged use of methotrexate, sulfasalazine, glucocorticoids, leflunomide and TNF-a blockers."
The study is published in the open access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy.
ANI
