Cardiovascular disease risk in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: recommendations for clinical practice

Cardiovascular disease risk is markedly increased in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, leading to excess mortality. Cardiovascular disease in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases is caused by a combination of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors and enhanced independently by inflammation inherent to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Cardiovascular disease especially occurs during disease flares in undertreated patients. Clinicians and patients should both be aware of this increased cardiovascular disease risk and work together to timely intervene and prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.