Actual and Perceived Risk of Cardiovascular Disease among Sample of Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Independent of conventional risk factors, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Aims of the Study: To evaluate the actual and perceived 10-year CVD risk among Iraqi patients with RA as well as their level of knowledge about CVD risk. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included 100 RA patients (85 females and 15 males) who visited Baghdad Teaching Hospital/Rheumatology Unit from January 2021 to July 2021. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was used to calculate the actual 10-year risk of CVD. The Heart Disease Fact-Rheumatoid Arthritis Questionnaire (HDFQ-RA) was used to assess the subjects' knowledge of cardiovascular disease. Results: Among hundred Iraqi patients with RA, the median age was 51.23 8.4 years. The study's findings revealed that 23% had a high risk for CVD and 27% & 50% had moderate and low risk, respectively, based on the FRS calculator. The risk of CVD was significantly affected by the age of disease onset and seropositivity and steroid use (p-value 0.001). When the perceived risk was compared to the actual risk of cardiovascular disease, there was a weak agreement between them; only 31% had corresponding answers. Conclusions: The study showed an elevated risk of CVD in rheumatoid arthritis patients and a gap between actual and perceived CVD risk.