Cardiovascular Risks of Hydroxychloroquine vs Methotrexate in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hydroxychloroquine is often used as a first-line treatment of rheumatoid arthritis despite limited evidence on its cardiovascular risk.

Objectives

We conducted a cardiovascular safety evaluation comparing hydroxychloroquine to methotrexate among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods

Using Medicare data (2008-2016), we identified 54,462 propensity score-matched patients with rheumatoid arthritis, aged ≥65 years, who initiated hydroxychloroquine or methotrexate. Primary outcomes were sudden cardiac arrest or ventricular arrythmia (SCA/VA) and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalized heart failure (HF). We also examined treatment effec

SUBMITTER: D'Andrea E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9722228 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature