The presentation and outcome of heart failure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis differs from that in the general population

Abstract

Both the clinical presentation and the outcome of heart failure differ significantly between patients with and those without RA from the same population. Among patients with RA, the presentation of heart failure is more subtle, myocardial function is more likely preserved, while mortality from heart failure is significantly higher. These findings emphasize the importance of more vigilant screening of patients with RA for early signs of heart failure and may represent important insights into the biologic mechanisms underlying heart failure in RA.