Cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis: Current perspectives on assessing and mitigating risk in clinical practice

Abstract

That individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have, on average, higher rates of events related to atherosclerotic vascular disease is now well documented and accepted. However, optimal ways to identify RA patients with atherosclerosis, and treat them to mitigate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk have not been rigorously established. As such, current guidelines for CVD screening and prevention lack an evidence base. In the context of the current understanding of the determinants of atherosclerosis in RA and the current guidelines that have been published, this review focuses on strategies for identifying RA patients at risk of CVD events, and the possible primary and secondary prevention strategies that may be effective.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular imaging; Prediction; Rheumatoid arthritis; Risk algorithms; Screening.