CVD Risk in Inflammatory Joint Disease Is Underestimated
Although drugs to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) are often prescribed to patients with inflammatory joint diseases (IJD), experts warn against the fact that these drugs are applied too inconsistently.
In a study conducted in a group of 2647 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and other spondyloarthropathies, only 59% of patients in need of antihypertensive therapy received treatment.
Similarly, only half of the patients in whom lipid-lowering therapy was indicated received adequate treatment. Treatment rates were higher for those with "very high CVD risk" than those at "high risk". Overall, 16.8% of patients who received hypolipidemic therapy have reached the target values for LDL cholesterol.
The authors concluded that even if a prevention of CVD is often indicated, such treatment is infrequently initiated in patients with IJD. They concluded that it is necessary to improve the assessment of CVD risk factors, establish adequate prevention of CVD and carefully monitor that targets are met in order to successfully reduce the excess risk of CVD in patients with IJD.
Reference
Ikdahl, E et al. Inadequate Exploring the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Inflammatory Joint Diseases: Results from a Nationwide Norwegian Project. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016 68 (suppl 10). [Accessed November 2016.]
Tags: AS, rheumatoid arthritis, drugs, psoriatic arthritis, CVD