The relation between total joint arthroplasty and risk for serious cardiovascular events in patients with moderate-severe osteoarthritis: propensity score matched landmark analysis.

STUDY QUESTION: What are the rates of serious cardiovascular events in those who undergo primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) compared with those who do not within three years of initial assessment? SUMMARY ANSWER: Undergoing elective primary TJA within three years of initial assessment was associated with a significant 12.4% absolute reduction in subsequent risk of serious cardiovascular events. WHAT IS KNOWN AND WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Osteoarthritis is associated with increased mortality, particularly secondary to cardiovascular disease, with the risk for mortality proportional to the degree of disability secondary to the arthritis. This study suggests that management of hip or knee osteoarthritis with arthroplasty decreases the risk for subsequent serious cardiovascular events. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.