No Excess Cardiovascular Risks Found Among Patients with RA Taking JAK Inhibitors

Janus kinase inhibitors (JAK) such as tofacitinib and baricitinib posed no greater risk than does adalimumab for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) or venous thromboembolism (VTE) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the findings of a nationwide cohort study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

“This study provides reassuring data regarding the risks of MACEs and VTEs in patients initiating a JAK inhibitor versus adalimumab, including patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases,” the researchers stated in their report.

The retrospective study included 15,835 participants between July 2017 and May 2021, from the French national health data system and divided into two subgroups: the exposed group (n=8481) receiving a JAK inhibitor, and the nonexposed group (n=7354) receiving adalimumab. After accounting for a range of covariates, including concurrent therapy, comorbidities, and patient characteristics, the difference in risk for MACEs was not statistically different between the JAK group and the adalimumab group [weighted hazard ratio 1.0 (95% CI 0.7 to 1.5)]. Similarly, in terms of VTEs, the relative risk between the JAK group and the adalimumab group was not significant [weighted hazard ratio 1.1 (0.7 to 1.6)]

The findings yielded similar results among patients ages 65 years and more with at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor.

—Priyam Vora

Reference:
Hoisnard L, Vegas L, Dray-Spira R et al. Risk of major adverse cardiovascular and venous thromboembolism events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis exposed to JAK inhibitors versus adalimumab: a nationwide cohort study. Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online: October 05, 2022. DOI: 10.1136/ard-2022-222824