Alborz University

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that predominantly affects the joints and can significantly impact the quality of life of patients. Tofacitinib is recognized as a key medication in managing this condition. However, concerns about the potential side effects of this drug, especially its impact on cardiovascular health, still exist.
Methods: International databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central were searched for relevant articles. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Data were statistically analyzed using a random-effects model and the CMA software version 3.
Results: This study, based on data from five trials involving 3,111 rheumatoid arthritis patients, investigated the relationship between Tofacitinib at 5 mg and 10 mg doses and cardiovascular events. In the 5 mg Tofacitinib group, 8 out of 1,897 patients experienced cardiovascular events (odds ratio of 2.95 with a 95% confidence interval from 0.5 to 17.1). In the 10 mg Tofacitinib group, only 4 out of 1,895 patients reported these events (odds ratio of 1.83 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.3 to 9.3).
Conclusion: Tofacitinib is recognized as an effective drug in controlling the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. However, our results indicate that the use of this drug may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Although these differences were not statistically significant, they emphasize the importance of closer monitoring of patients taking Tofacitinib. Clinical decisions should consider the risk of cardiovascular events, and conducting intervention studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups is essential.