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Increased cardiovascular disease in patients with inflammatory arthritis in primary care: a cross-sectional

Mike J L Peters1, Mark M J Nielen, Hennie G Raterman

  • 1VU University Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. mt.nurmohamed@vumc.nl

The Journal of Rheumatology
|August 4, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Patients with inflammatory arthritis have a significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to controls. This highlights the critical need for proactive cardiovascular risk management in primary care for these individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
  • Primary Care Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality globally.
  • Inflammatory arthritis is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for CVD.
  • Primary care settings manage a significant number of patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis versus control subjects.
  • To assess the cardiovascular burden in individuals with inflammatory arthritis within a primary care context.

Main Methods:

  • Conditional logistic regression analyses were employed to compare CVD prevalence.
  • The study included patients and controls aged between 50 and 75 years.
  • Data was sourced from primary care registrations.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of CVD was 66.1 per 1000 patients in the inflammatory arthritis group.
  • The prevalence of CVD was 37.3 per 1000 patients in the control group.
  • An odds ratio of 1.83 (95% CI 1.33-2.51) indicated a higher likelihood of CVD in inflammatory arthritis patients.

Conclusions:

  • Patients with inflammatory arthritis managed in primary care exhibit an elevated cardiovascular disease burden.
  • There is a clear need for enhanced cardiovascular risk assessment and management strategies for inflammatory arthritis patients in primary care settings.
  • Early detection and intervention are crucial to mitigate cardiovascular complications in this population.
Abstract

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