Common Drugs Boost Diabetes Risk in RA Patients Hydrochloroquine, abatacept associated with reduced risk

Confirming previously observed elevated diabetes risk with glucocorticoids, the study found a more than 30% increase in risk with these anti-inflammatories and also found a rise in diabetes risk of almost 60% with statin treatment. In contrast, hydroxychloroquine and abatacept (Orencia) were associated with reduced diabetes susceptibility. "Considering the increased [cardiovascular] mortality in RA and the importance of diabetes to this outcome, our findings can inform clinicians about determining the appropriate treatment decisions in high diabetes-risk patients with RA," wrote Kaleb Michaud, PhD, of the University of Nebraska in Omaha, and colleagues. http://www.medpagetoday.com/rheumatology/arthritis/61677