Autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular risk: a population-based study on 19 autoimmune diseases and 12 cardiovascular diseases in 22 million individuals in the UK

Conrad, N., Verbeke, G., Molenberghs, G., Goetschalckx, L., Callender, T., Cambridge, G., Mason, J. C., Rahimi, K., McMurray, J. J.V. and Verbakel, J. Y. (2022) Autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular risk: a population-based study on 19 autoimmune diseases and 12 cardiovascular diseases in 22 million individuals in the UK. Lancet, 400(10354), pp. 733-743. (doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01349-6) (PMID:36041475)

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Abstract

Background: Some autoimmune diseases are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to determine whether or not this is true, and to what extent, for a broad range of autoimmune conditions. Methods: In this population-based study, we used linked primary and secondary care records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), GOLD and Aurum datasets, to assemble a cohort of individuals across the UK who were newly diagnosed with any of 19 autoimmune diseases between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2017, younger than 80 years at diagnosis, and free of cardiovascular diseases up to 12 months after diagnosis. We also assembled a matched cohort with up to five individuals matched on age, sex, socioeconomic status, region, and calendar year, who were free of autoimmune disease and free of cardiovascular diseases up to 12 months after study entry. Both cohorts were followed up until June 30, 2019. We investigated the incidence of 12 cardiovascular outcomes and used Cox proportional hazards models to examine differences in patients with and without autoimmune diseases. Findings: Of 22 009 375 individuals identified from the CPRD databases, we identified 446 449 eligible individuals with autoimmune diseases and 2 102 830 matched controls. In the autoimmune cohort, mean age at diagnosis was 46·2 years (SD 19·8), and 271 410 (60·8%) were women and 175 039 (39·2%) were men. 68 413 (15·3%) people with and 231 410 (11·0%) without autoimmune diseases developed incident cardiovascular disease during a median of 6·2 years (IQR 2·7–10·8) of follow-up. The incidence rate of cardiovascular disease was 23·3 events per 1000 patient-years among patients with autoimmune disease and 15·0 events per 1000 patient-years among those without an autoimmune disease (hazard ratio [HR] 1·56 [95% CI 1·52–1·59]). An increased risk of cardiovascular disease with autoimmune disease was seen for every individual cardiovascular disease and increased progressively with the number of autoimmune diseases present (one disease: HR 1·41 [95% CI 1·37–1·45]; two diseases: 2·63 [2·49–2·78]); three or more diseases: 3·79 [3·36–4·27]), and in younger age groups (age <45 years: 2·33 [2·16–2·51]; 55–64 years: 1·76 [1·67–1·85]; ≥75 years: 1·30 [1·24–1·36]). Among autoimmune diseases, systemic sclerosis (3·59 [2·81–4·59]), Addison's disease (2·83 [1·96–4·09]), systemic lupus erythematosus (2·82 [2·38–3·33]), and type 1 diabetes (2·36 [2·21–2·52]) had the highest overall cardiovascular risk. Interpretation: These findings warrant targeted cardiovascular prevention measures, in particular in younger patients with autoimmune diseases, and further research into pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these complications. Funding: Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and European Society of Cardiology.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 843267. NC is further supported by a grant from the European Society of Cardiology (grant number App000037070). TC is supported by the Wellcome Trust as a Wellcome Clinical PhD Training Fellow. JV is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Community Healthcare MedTech and In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. JMM is supported by a British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Grant RE/18/6/34217. KR is supported by a British Heart Foundation (Grant Ref: PG/18/65/33872 and FS/19/36/34346), the Oxford Martin School, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), and UKRI’s Global Challenge Research Fund (Grant Ref: ES/P011055/1).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McMurray, Professor John
Authors: Conrad, N., Verbeke, G., Molenberghs, G., Goetschalckx, L., Callender, T., Cambridge, G., Mason, J. C., Rahimi, K., McMurray, J. J.V., and Verbakel, J. Y.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name:Lancet
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0140-6736
ISSN (Online):1474-547X
Published Online:27 August 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd.
First Published:First published in Lancet 400(10354): 733-743
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
303944BHF Centre of ExcellenceColin BerryBritish Heart Foundation (BHF)RE/18/6/34217CAMS - Cardiovascular Science