Managing Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Rheumatic Disease

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2022 May;48(2):429-444. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2022.02.003.

Abstract

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or gout have increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. This risk relates to a combination of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and disease-specific factors. Screening for CVD is important because CVD contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. Management includes tight control of disease activity to reduce inflammation, but with care to minimize use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and prolonged courses of high-dose corticosteroids. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors should be managed with a combination of lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy. The decision to start antihypertensive and lipid-lowering therapy should be based on individual CVD risk.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease (CVD); Gout; Inflammation; RA; SLE.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / prevention & control
  • Heart Disease Risk Factors
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* / epidemiology
  • Rheumatic Diseases* / complications
  • Rheumatic Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Rheumatic Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors