Reducing the cardiovascular disease burden in rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with an increase in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity; this increase is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs appears to reduce cardiovascular mortality. The optimal approach to prevention of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis is evolving, but will include a combination of: cardiovascular risk factor screening and management; effective and sustained control of joint and systemic inflammation; and a high index of suspicion for silent cardiac disease.
Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, VIC. svd@unimelb.edu.au
Sharon
S
Van Doornum
Garry L R
GL
Jennings
Ian P
IP
Wicks
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents