Increased coronary‐artery atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: Relationship to disease duration and cardiovascular risk factors

Objective To compare the prevalence and severity of coronary‐artery atherosclerosis in patients with early and established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and controls. Methods Electron‐beam computed tomography was used to measure the extent of coronary‐artery calcification in 227 subjects, of whom 70 had early RA, 71 had established RA, and 86 were controls. Coronary‐artery calcification calculated according to the Agatston calcium score was compared...