Lack of Association of Oral Calcium Supplementation With Coronary Artery Calcification in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Issue 6 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geraldino‐Pardilla, Laura; Dhaduvai, Shanthi; Giles, Jon T.; Bathon, Joan M.
• Is Part Of: Arthritis & rheumatology. Volume 67:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 1465
• Page End: 1473
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Arthritis -- Periodicals; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.72
• DOI: 10.1002/art.39100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2326-5191

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="art39100-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To investigate the association between oral calcium supplementation and coronary artery calcification among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without known cardiovascular disease (CVD).</p> </sec> <sec id="art39100-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>This study was conducted as a nested, prospective cohort study of RA patients without known CVD. The daily supplemental calcium dose was ascertained from each patients' list of prescription and over‐the‐counter medications at baseline and at visit 2 (median 20 months postbaseline). The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, a measure of coronary atherosclerosis, was assessed by cardiac multidetector row computed tomography at baseline and at visit 3 (median 39 months postbaseline). The association between calcium supplementation and CAC was explored.</p> </sec> <sec id="art39100-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Among the 145 RA patients studied, 42 (28%) were taking ≥1, 000 mg/day of supplemental calcium at baseline. A CAC score of >100 units was seen in 44 patients (30%) at baseline and 50 patients (34%) at followup. Baseline CAC scores of >100 units were significantly less frequent in patients receiving the higher dosage (≥1, 000 mg/day) of supplemental calcium than in those receiving the lower dosage (<1, 000 mg/day) (odds ratio [OR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.11–0.74); this association remained significant after adjustment for relevant confounders (adjusted OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.09–0.93). Similarly, at the third study visit, CAC scores of >100 units were less frequent in the higher supplemental calcium dose group compared to the lower dose group (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18–0.95); however, after adjustment for relevant confounders, the statistical significance of this association was lost (adjusted OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.14–1.12). No effect of sex heterogeneity was seen in the association of calcium supplementation with coronary artery calcification, and no change in the CAC score over time was observed.</p> </sec> <sec id="art39100-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Higher levels of oral calcium supplementation were not associated with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis, as measured by the CAC score, in this RA cohort.</p> </sec> </abstract>