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Limiting cardiovascular risk in Irish rheumatoid arthritis patients

N L Ambrose1, P O'Connell, G Kearns

  • 1Rheumatology Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. nambrose2001@yahoo.co.uk

Irish Journal of Medical Science
|November 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Rheumatoid arthritis patients often lack cardiovascular risk screening. A shared care booklet significantly improved screening rates and patient education in outpatient clinics.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face elevated risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and early mortality.
  • Standard screening for cardiovascular risk factors in RA patients is often insufficient in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the thoroughness of cardiovascular risk factor screening in an outpatient RA population.
  • To assess the impact of implementing a shared care cardiovascular booklet on screening practices.

Main Methods:

  • An initial audit assessed cardiovascular risk assessment in 80 RA patients, revealing deficits in 80% of cases.
  • A shared care cardiovascular booklet was developed and introduced based on audit findings.

Main Results:

  • Re-auditing demonstrated a significant enhancement in the systematic assessment of cardiovascular risks post-intervention.
  • The shared care booklet facilitated improved screening and served as an educational resource.

Conclusions:

  • Busy outpatient clinics exhibit inadequate screening for cardiovascular risks.
  • The introduction of a shared care booklet effectively increased screening levels and supported doctor-patient education regarding cardiovascular health in RA patients.
Abstract

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