Most studies of mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) have found increased mortality rates and cardiovascular (CV) disease
accounts for up to 50–60% of this excess mortality [1–3] which is
mainly driven by accelerated coronary artery and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis
[2,3]. Epidemiological data show no improvement in CV
mortality in patientswith RA over the last 5 decades [4], possibly related
with an underestimation of the negative effects of their CV risk factors.
Accordingly, we designed the “EPIDAURO registry” (Registro sull'
EPIdemiologia Dell'Artrite reUmatoide e Rischio cardiOvascolare),
aimed at collecting information on the CV risk profile and clinical management
of patients with RA with the aim to highlight possible reasons
for lacking of reduction in CV mortality over time in these patients.
