title: Managing Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clinical Updates and Three Strategic Approaches.
abstract: ᅟ: The increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well known; however, appropriate management of this elevated risk in rheumatology clinics is less clear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  By critically reviewing literature published within the past 5 years, we aim to clarify current knowledge and gaps regarding CVD risk management in RA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We examine recent guidelines, recommendations, and evidence and discuss three approaches: (1) RA-specific management including treat-to-target and medication management, (2) assessment of comprehensive individual risk, and (3) targeting traditional CVD risk factors (hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity) at a population level. Considering that 75% of US RA visits occur in specialty clinics, further research is needed regarding evidence-based strategies to manage and reduce CVD risk in RA. This review highlights clinical updates including US cardiology and international professional society guidelines, successful evidence-based population approaches from primary care, and novel opportunities in rheumatology care to reduce CVD risk in RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chodara
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), 1685 Highland Ave, Rm 4132, 53705-2281, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Aimée
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wattiaux
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), 1685 Highland Ave, Rm 4132, 53705-2281, Madison, WI, USA. cb4@medicine.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Christie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bartels
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019468:Disease Management; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Hyperlipidemia; Hypertension; Rheumatoid arthritis; Risk assessment; Smoking cessation