Joint effect of rheumatoid arthritis and diet quality on cardiovascular and mortality outcomes: insights from the Women's Health Initiative.

While healthy diet quality is associated with reduced adverse cardiovascular and mortality outcomes, RA overpowers the benefits that may be attained through a healthy diet, resulting in the fact that diet quality does not significantly change cardiovascular and mortality outcome incidence in those who already have RA. Conversely, in those who do not have RA, the benefits of a healthy diet are realized with significant reduction of adverse cardiovascular and mortality outcomes as compared to those with an unhealthy diet. Key Points •Healthy diet quality is associated with reduced adverse cardiovascular and mortality outcomes. •RA is associated with increased adverse cardiovascular and mortality outcomes. •While diet quality does not significantly change cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in those who already have RA, those without RA experience significant reduction of these adverse outcomes by adhering to a healthy diet.