- Advanced imaging revealed hidden heart strain in nearly one-third of rheumatoid arthritis patients with normal heart function.
- Anemia was the most reliable predictor of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in these patients.
- Age and diabetes were also associated with impaired heart muscle function.
- Standard echocardiography showed no statistically significant differences between the RA and control groups.
- The study highlighted the added value of speckle tracking echocardiography in identifying early myocardial changes.
Source: Frontiers
