Hypertension, inflammation and vascular risk in inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Vascular risk is higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis than in the general population. In addition to classical vascular risk factors, chronic inflammation plays a crucial role in increasing this risk. In rheumatoid arthritis, the prevalence of hypertension is 41%. Moreover, the prevalence of hypertension has been associated with the duration of spondyloarthritis, as well as the presence of severe psoriasis in psoriatic arthritis. Although some drugs used in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, such as NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and Jakinibs, have been associated with an increased vascular risk, their ability to reduce inflammatory activity contributes to a decreased vascular risk in these patients. These drugs should be used with caution, and risk stratification should be performed in patients with vascular risk factors.