Kardiovaskulär risk bör skattas regelbundet vid inflammatorisk systemsjukdom. Reumatologföreningen har utarbetat riktlinjer för primärprevention
Sammanfattning
Mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease are increased in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The risk of cardiovascular disease is substantially raised in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffering persistent high disease activity with or without extra-articular disease, and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A study group within the Swedish Society of Rheumatology has formulated guidelines for the primary prevention of cardiovascular event in these groups of patients: patients with rheumatic diseases should be screened regularly and, when necessary, be adequately treated for traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, inappropriate lipid levels, diabetes mellitus, smoking and being overweight. In risk intervention, patients with RA and persisting high activity, and patients with SLE should be regarded as though they had an additional cardiovascular risk factor. Optimal treatment of disease activity is essential in rheumatic disaese – also from a cardiovascular point of view!