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Reducing the cardiovascular disease burden in rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Van Doornum Sharon,
Jennings Garry L R,
Wicks Ian P
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00239.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , disease , arthritis , intensive care medicine , antirheumatic agents , antirheumatic drugs , physical therapy
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.