Myopericarditis Linked to Multiple Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases

Numerous autoimmune connective tissue diseases are linked to acute myopericarditis, according to study results presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2023 conference, held from March 4 to 6, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Investigators sought to evaluate the correlation between autoimmune connective tissue diseases and myopericarditis.

This retrospective, large population-based cohort study included data from 121 million hospital admissions retrieved from electronic medical records from the National Inpatient Sample database from 2016 to 2019 using ICD-10 codes. Adjustments for potential confounders were calculated using logistic regression models.

A primary diagnosis of myopericarditis was identified in 141,665 patients (median age, 61 years [IQR, 47-72]; P <.001). Black individuals had a higher risk for myopericarditis than White individuals (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% CI, 1.12-1.20) and women had a lower risk for myopericarditis than men (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.63-0.66) (all P <.001).

Thirteen of the 15 autoimmune diseases evaluated independently associated with risk for myopericarditis, among which the highest odds included systemic lupus erythematosus (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 3.2-3.8; P <.01), Takayasu’s arteritis (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.8-10.5; P =.001), scleroderma (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 3.8-5.2; P <.01), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.4-8.9; P <.01).

Study limitations include the unknown number of individuals who may have been admitted more than once and counted multiple times.

 “This study highlights various rheumatic diseases linked to acute myopericarditis,” the study authors wrote. “It is prudent to diagnose the cardiac involvement early in the clinical course to avoid fulminant myocarditis and ensuing heart failure.”

This article originally appeared on The Cardiology Advisor