Cardiac Rehabilitation for Cardiovascular Risk Modification in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hypertension: A
Abdurrahman Kutluca1, Serap Tomruk Sütbeyaz1, Havva Talay Çalış1
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kayseri City Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Türkiye.
International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Cardiac rehabilitation significantly reduced cardiovascular risk and improved blood pressure and fitness in rheumatoid arthritis patients with hypertension. The program enhanced cardiovascular health without worsening RA disease activity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, especially with coexisting hypertension.
- Limited evidence exists on the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for this high-risk group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a structured CR program on cardiovascular risk, ambulatory blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness in RA patients with hypertension.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 50 RA patients with hypertension, assigned to a 6-week supervised CR program or usual care.
- Outcomes included Framingham Risk Score (FRS), QRISK 3 , 24-h ambulatory systolic blood pressure (ABPM), and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max).
- Intention-to-treat analysis using linear mixed-effects models was performed.
Main Results:
- The CR group showed a significant reduction in FRS at 24 weeks (between-group difference: -5.02 points; p=0.007).
- Significant improvements were observed in 24-h ambulatory systolic blood pressure (-9.70 mmHg) and VO 2 max (+4.90 mL·kg -1 ·min -1 ) in the CR group compared to usual care.
- Rheumatoid arthritis disease activity remained stable and within remission ranges.
Conclusions:
- A structured CR program improved cardiovascular risk profiles, ambulatory blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness in stable RA patients with hypertension.
- CR may serve as an effective adjunctive strategy for cardiovascular risk management in this specific high-risk population.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and optimize CR protocols for RA patients.
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