Association of rheumatoid arthritis with mortality in chronic kidney disease: a cohort study.

RA was associated with higher mortality among individuals with CKD but not progressive renal decline. Further studies evaluating the mechanisms behind this association are needed. Key Points • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), also a known cardiovascular risk factor. However, it is not known if RA is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with CKD • In this study, we observed that CKD patients with RA experience higher mortality as well as an increased risk of CVD compared to patients with CKD without comorbid RA • These data provide rationale for more aggressive monitoring for CVD in patients with CKD and RA. They also underscore the need for determining which interventions can help decrease the burden of mortality in these patients.