Page 31 - Bringing UHN into Focus - 2015-2016 Year in Review

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Spinal arthritis may increase risk of heart
attackIToTRrANsSFtOrRoMAkTIeON

A recent study from UHN experts Drs. Nigil Haroon and Nisha Haroon, a husband
and wife team at UHN, designed a population-based
hRasEsShEeAd RligChHt oAnNadDdiItNioNnaOl hVeAalTthION study including more than 21,000 AS patients and
86,000 controls without AS to determine the level of
concerns that people with a type of mortality risk AS patients face.
spinal arthritis called ankylosing “This research provides a bigger picture as to what
spondylitis (AS) may face. patients with AS might face living with this disease,”
The study, “Patients with ankylosing spondylitis says Dr. Nigil Haroon, lead researcher and specialist in
spondyloarthritis.
have increased cMardICioHvaEsNcuElaRr aINndTcEeGreRbrAoTvaIOscNular “The study shows that it is important that patients
receive comprehensive screening, preventative care,
mortality: a population-based study,” published online as well as optimal management of cardiovascular and
in the Annals of Internal Medicine, links AS with a 35 cerebrovascular disease.”
per cent higher risk of dying from heart attack and a
60 per cent increased risk of dying from stroke than
those without AS.

Link to full story: click here.

Also Making News

Dr. Nigil Haroon is co-director of the UHN Spondylitis Program TIFF and UHN co-star in
and lead author of a study that identifies additional health risks for mental health program
patients with ankylosing spondylitis. (Photo: UHN) Toronto man ‘blessed with
second chance’ thanks
Year in Review 2015 – 2016 to Peter Munk Cardiac
Centre
Defying the odds – from
paralysis to half-marathon

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