Does Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Cause Death? It is a typical concern among those who have recently received a diagnosis. RA is not fatal. Thus your fears are unfounded. Nevertheless, and this is huge, evidence shows that those with RA tend to die younger than those without. Traditionally, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis have had a shorter lifetime.

Chronic steroid usage, significant joint injury, organ involvement, and the possibility of infection are all factors. Do not immediately freak out; there are many things you can take to lessen the likelihood that your chronic disease may shorten your life span. Check out what the professionals have to say about it.

Correlation Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Mortality

One study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism suggests that the perception that persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) age more quickly than those without the condition may be a reflection of the fact that those with RA have lower life expectancies. Those without RA had a median life expectancy of around 82 years, whereas those with RA had a life expectancy of around 77 years.

In addition, scientists discovered that RA patients were often two years older than their actual age when they were diagnosed with the disease. And from that moment on, their accelerated aging process never slowed. Patients with RA had an effective age of 11.4 years for every ten years of biological age.

Your Heart and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Atherosclerosis, or the gradual development of plaque in the arteries, is one reason why persons with rheumatoid arthritis age more quickly than the general population. Inflammation has been linked to the development of arterial plaque.

Researchers analyzed 112 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and measured their coronary calcium score (CCS), an artery calcification or hardening marker. They compared these CCS scores to those of a control group and discovered that those with RA had significantly older arteries.

Over the first decade of the condition, the accelerated arterial age advanced at an even higher pace. Smoking, high blood pressure, and a history of cardiovascular events were other variables in this accelerated coronary atherosclerosis process with advancing age.

Patients with RA have a risk of sudden cardiac mortality that is 45-60% greater than the general population. This is mostly owing to the cardiovascular comorbidities they experience. Hence, reducing inflammation is essential for reducing the cardiovascular risks of RA patients.

Age-Related Conditions Other Than Rheumatoid Arthritis

Stella Bard, M.D., a rheumatologist in New York City and McKinney, TX, notes that inflammation caused by RA can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death and other forms of heart disease. Those with RA are at a higher risk of developing interstitial lung disease, an inflammatory condition that can lead to scarring of the lungs and difficulty breathing.

Cardiovascular and respiratory issues are major contributors to the high death rates in RA patients. Almost 9,000 of the over 30,000 RA patients whose data were obtained in the study succumbed to the disease during the trial. Heart disease, lung disease, and cancer were responsible for the untimely deaths of 25% of RA patients, according to the study's authors.

Do Arthritis Drugs Improve Survival Rates?

With this information in hand, is there anything a person living with rheumatoid arthritis may do to increase their chances of survival? Indeed, that's the case. The life expectancy of persons with RA has increased gradually as new and better medications have become available.

New treatments can potentially reduce or eradicate the inflammation that causes the disease's harmful effects. She says the illness may be "treated to remission," where it is "almost undetectable," because of the arsenal of potent biologic DMARD medications available today. Modern medicine has made great strides.

The use of modern treatments like biologics has increased life expectancy for those with rheumatoid arthritis, he says. "From the beginning of the biologic era in the late 1990s, the disparity in patient life expectancy has greatly narrowed because to these innovative drugs that have allowed RA patients to attain remission."

RA Patients Live Longer With Good Lifestyle

The appropriate medicine can help, but if you want to extend your life expectancy even more, you might want to try changing some of your behaviors. Reduce your intake of sweets and refined carbohydrates, which can cause inflammation. Consume a diet rich in Mediterranean foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and grains, to help you shed pounds.

Weight reduction through exercise is another way this activity benefits mobility and stability in the joints and the muscular system. Having RA does not bode well for your chances of living a long life. Yet the statistics are rising, and you can make a difference in how your daily decisions treat RA.