New study links heart attacks and inflammatory bowel disease

New research has identified strong evidence of a connection between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and an elevated risk of heart disease.

Led by the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, the study analysed data on more than 22 million patients, finding that heart attacks were almost twice as common in patients with IBD as in those without.

Traditional risk factors for heart disease – such as high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking – were also more prevalent in patients with IBD. When all factors were considered, patients with IBD were shown to be around 23 percent more likely to have a heart attack.

The highest risk was seen in patients aged below 40, with earlier age at diagnosis and being female both associated with increased levels of inflammation and more aggressive and a more disabling disease.

Dr Muhammad Panhwar, a researcher at the University Hospitals Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute, said: "Our hope is that our study encourages more clinicians to screen these patients more aggressively for heart disease."

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