Cardiovascular disease risk scores in the current practice: which to use in rheumatoid arthritis?

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Cardiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death globally.
• CVD prevalence is significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to the general population (GP).
• Early detection of subclinical CVD is crucial for managing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of existing cardiovascular risk prediction models in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
• To identify the most suitable CVD predictive tools for this high-risk population.
• To address the limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of CVD risk calculators in RA.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and critical analysis of cardiovascular risk prediction models.
• Comparison of model performance and applicability in the context of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Assessment of evidence levels for different predictive tools in special high-risk groups.

Main Results:

• Existing cardiovascular risk prediction models show variability in their applicability and accuracy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
• There is a notable lack of robust evidence supporting the use of most standard CVD risk calculators in RA.
• Specific models may offer better predictive value for RA, but require further validation.

Conclusions:

• Current cardiovascular risk prediction models require careful consideration and potential adaptation for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
• Further research is needed to establish evidence-based guidelines for CVD risk assessment in RA.
• Selecting appropriate predictive models is critical for improving cardiovascular care in rheumatoid arthritis.