The Coronary Artery Calcium and Troponins in Rheumatoid Arthritis (CAT-RA) Study

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have up to 2x the risk of having a heart attack compared to someone without RA. The goal of this study is to identify biomarkers that can help us do a better job of identifying individuals at risk before they develop symptoms of heart disease and start preventative treatment earlier.

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Key information

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA Arterial Occlusive Diseases Arteriosclerosis Arthritis Arthritis, Rheumatoid Atherosclerosis Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) Autoimmune Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Connective Tissue Diseases Immune System Diseases Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

35 year–79 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

About this study

The objective of this study is to test the utility of high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in risk stratifying patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who may benefit from lipid lowering therapy. The population of interest are individuals who would not otherwise be recommended for therapy based on general population risk calculators for heart disease risk.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

RA diagnosed by a rheumatologist
Age 40- 79
≥1 ASCVD risk factor including prediabetes, hypertension, BMI >30, current or history of cigarette smoking

Exclusion criteria

Patients on a statin or with a contraindication to statin, on a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, or on a PCSK9 inhibitor
Patients with diabetes mellitus
Pregnancy

Treatment and study plan

high sensitivity cardiac troponin

Diagnostic Test

Blood measurement of high sensitivity cardiac troponin

Primary outcomes

coronary artery calcium score

Time frame: Cross-sectional, at baseline

Quantified coronary artery calcium score

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Other

Collaborators

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Registry information

Acronym: CAT-RA

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2028
Study completion: 2028
First posted: Jan 5, 2026
Registry last updated: Jul 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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