Journal of Inflammation Research (Dec 2021)
Monitoring and Managing Cardiovascular Risk in Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases
Abstract
Panagiota Anyfanti,1 Athanasia Dara,2 Elena Angeloudi,1 Eleni Bekiari,1 Theodoros Dimitroulas,2 George D Kitas3,4 1Second Medical Department, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; 3Department of Rheumatology, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Dudley, UK; 4School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UKCorrespondence: Panagiota AnyfantiHippokration General Hospital, 49, Konstantinoupoleos str, 54642, Thessaloniki, GreeceTel +30 2310 892 244Fax +30 2310 512 378Email [email protected] D KitasDudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Russells Hall Hospital, Clinical Research Unit, Dudley, DY1 2HQ, UKEmail [email protected]: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and it is predominately attributed to the interplay between chronic inflammation and traditional CVD risk factors. CVD has significant impact on the survival of patients with IMIDs as it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Despite recommendations for monitoring and managing CVD in patients with IMIDs, the individual CVD risk assessment remains problematic as CVD risk calculators for the general population consistently underestimate the risk in patients with IMIDs. Application of new technologies utilizing artificial intelligence techniques have shown promising potential for tailoring predictive medicine to the individual patient, but further validation of their role in clinical decision-making is warranted. In the meantime, individuals with IMIDs should be encouraged to adopt behavioral interventions targeting at modifiable lifestyle CVD risk factors, whereas rheumatologists need to be well aware of the unfavorable effects of antirheumatic medication on various CVD risk factors and outcomes. In the current paper, we aim to provide an overview of current and emerging strategies for mitigating CVD risk in patients with IMIDs, based on a practical approach.Keywords: chronic inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular risk assessment, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological management
