Hypertension is common in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with one-quarter of non-hypertensive patients developing hypertension over a median follow-up period of 5 years. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as older age and being overweight, play a role in the development of hypertension. The study analyzed data on 2,052 patients from the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort study, finding that characteristics associated with hypertension in RA patients were consistent with those of the general population. Routine screening and management of modifiable risk factors are recommended to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in RA patients.
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Hypertension common, predicted by older age, diabetes in early rheumatoid arthritis
