Cardiovascular issues in rheumatic diseases

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Cardiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
• While inflammation is a known factor, accurate cardiovascular risk estimation in rheumatic diseases remains challenging, complicated by atherogenesis in conditions like fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.
• Systemic inflammation intensity is linked to vascular events in inflammatory rheumatic diseases, highlighting the need for better risk assessment tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the prevalence and significance of cardiovascular affections in rheumatic diseases.
• To address the critical issue of cardiovascular risk estimation in the context of rheumatic diseases.
• To advocate for enhanced cardiovascular monitoring and prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cardiovascular disease in rheumatic diseases.
• Analysis of cohort studies associating systemic inflammation with vascular events.
• Discussion of advanced visualization techniques for cardiovascular monitoring.
• Emphasis on patient and specialist education for risk factor management.

Main Results:

• Cardiovascular issues are common across all age groups in rheumatic diseases.
• Systemic inflammation intensity is a powerful predictor of vascular events in these patients.
• Current tools for predicting vascular events in inflammatory rheumatic diseases are not widely validated or reliable.

Conclusions:

• Tight control of systemic inflammation and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors is crucial for reducing vascular event risk.
• Improving knowledge and skills in cardiovascular monitoring and prevention for patients and specialists is essential.
• Empowering patients and primary care providers with knowledge is a promising strategy to mitigate cardiovascular risks in rheumatic diseases.