title: Adherence to cardiovascular prevention strategies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent national and international guidelines suggest strict treatment of CVD risk factors in RA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-reported adherence to CV prevention strategies in patients with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  RA patients visiting an outpatient clinic for strict CVD risk management received a validated questionnaire to evaluate adherence to CV prevention strategies. Strict treatment targets were defined and lifestyle recommendations were given following a prespecified protocol. CVD risk was assessed using the SCORE algorithm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 111 questionnaires were returned (response rate of 82%). A high 10-year CVD risk (≥ 20%) was present in 53%, but only 3% thought they had an increased CVD risk. A total of 53% of patients reported that they 'follow the doctors' suggestions exactly' and 75% reported finding it 'easy to follow the suggestions'. Of the 69% of patients who were prescribed lipid- and/or blood pressure-lowering drugs, 90% reported taking all prescribed tablets. The advice to follow a diet was given to 42%, of whom 68% said they followed the advised diet. Physical exercise was advised to 67%, of whom 62% said they performed specific physical exercise on at least 3 days a week. The adherence to lifestyle recommendations was not significantly different across the CVD risk groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA patients tend to underestimate their CVD risk. The self-reported adherence of RA patients to CVD risk management was high concerning pharmaceutical interventions and moderate in the case of lifestyle interventions.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology , Sint Franciscus Gasthuis , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: van Breukelen-van der Stoep
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology , Sint Franciscus Gasthuis , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zijlmans
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology , Sint Franciscus Gasthuis , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Zeben
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine , Sint Franciscus Gasthuis , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klop
authors.affiliation: c Department of Clinical Chemistry , Sint Franciscus Gasthuis , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G J M
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van de Geijn
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine , Sint Franciscus Gasthuis , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
authors.affiliation: d Department of Rheumatology , Erasmus Medical Centre , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hazes
authors.affiliation: e Institute of Health Policy and Management , Erasmus University , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.|f Statistics and Education , Sint Franciscus Gasthuis , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birnie
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine , Sint Franciscus Gasthuis , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro Cabezas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001364:Awareness; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004035:Diet Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents