Cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis | Arthritis Information
Yes, I know I'm harping on this, but it's important!
Kelt I et al. – A review of cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis summarizes the British Society of Rheumatology published guidelines on management of rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods
- Review of cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis and British Society of Rheumatology guidelines
Results
- British Society of Rheumatology published guidelines on management of rheumatoid arthritis call for increased awareness of rheumatoid arthritis as an independent risk factor for ischemic heart disease
- Increased cardiovascular risk relates to inflammation severity and duration
- Magnitude of additional cardiovascular risk in severe rheumatoid arthritis is compared with that in diabetes mellitus
- Reduced life expectancy is due to an excess of cardiovascular death
- Myocardial infarction twice as likely in women with vs without rheumatoid arthritis
- Increased risk of congestive cardiac failure, asymptomatic coronary heart disease, and sudden cardiac death
http://www.bjcardio.co.uk/download/2963 Harp away Lynn. This is probably the number one complication of RA and the most serious. Like I've said many times before all RA patients should have a baseline cardiac workup and then seen yearly by a cardiologist. It can save your life. Lindy
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