Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis disease with worldwide prevalence of 1-3%. RA patients are at higher risk of atherosclerosis than their matched age-sex controls. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for 50% risk of increasing mortality and morbidity in RA. The pattern of CVD in RA patients differs from that in the general population; RA patients are more likely have silent ischaemic heart disease (IHD), sudden death, heart failure and to die early. RA patients tend to have 5-10 years reduction in their life span than their matched healthy population. Traditional (classical) cardiovascular (CV) risk factors work separately or synergistically with the underlying inflammation to increase CVD risk in RA. More, Inflammation is defined as an independent CVD risk factor. This literature review aims to discuss the traditional CVD risk factors and its association with inflammation in RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis disease with worldwide prevalence of 1-3%. RA patients are at higher risk of atherosclerosis than their matched age-sex controls. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for 50% risk of increasing mortality and morbidity in RA. The pa...