Cardiovascular Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Early Detection and Management

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular risk among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using the SCORE2 model, and to examine its association with disease severity and lipid abnormalities. The findings underscore the need for RA-specific cardiovascular risk assessment tools over conventional models. Methodology: A retrospective analysis was conducted from January 2024 to December 2024, involving 380 RA patients. Cardiovascular risk was stratified using the SCORE2 model, while disease activity was assessed using the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28). Lipid profiles (LDL, HDL) and inflammatory markers (CRP) were evaluated. Standard statistical tests, including t-tests and chi-square tests, were used with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Patient data on treatment regimens (DMARDs, biologics, steroids) and clinical validation of the risk model were also considered. Results: Of the 380 patients, 25.8% were categorized as high risk according to the SCORE2 model, indicating a substantial cardiovascular burden among RA patients. Patients with high cardiovascular risk exhibited significantly elevated DAS28 scores (4.9 ± 1.3), confirming a positive correlation between disease severity and cardiovascular risk (p = 0.01). No significant gender-based differences were observed in cardiovascular risk (p = 0.54), warranting further investigation into the potential role of hormonal and metabolic influences. Conclusion: The study establishes a robust association between RA severity and elevated cardiovascular risk, reinforcing the need for routine cardiovascular screening in RA management. Early identification and intervention, particularly in high-risk patients, may mitigate long-term cardiovascular complications.