Chen YR, et al. - In this cohort study, researchers investigated the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on risk of stroke recurrence and studied the interaction between RA and traditional cardiovascular risk factors on recurrence risk after ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Through a nationwide stroke database in Taiwan and the National Health Insurance claims database, stroke recurrence, RA, lifestyle, lipid variables, and other comorbidities were identified. Researchers for the first time provided the evidence that RA significantly increased IS/TIA recurrence risk. In RA patients, the changes of triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio could play some role in the recurrence IS/TIA risk. They suggested that smoking increases the risk of recurrent IS/TIA in RA patients and strengthens the requirement for aggressive smoking cessation efforts in RA patients.