Hypertension in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: progress made, gaps remain

Providers working in rheumatology settings are well aware that cardiovascular risk assessment is frequently underemphasized in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD).In this context, Gkaliagkousi et al. [1] provide an important contribution by analyzing and summarizing current evidence in a position paper from the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) entitled "Hypertension in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: A Position Paper from the ESH Working Group on Small Arteries".The paper focuses on hypertension assessment and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk evaluation in rheumatology patients.Although frequently overlooked in clinical practice, this topic is critical for improving disease management, quality of life, and survival.The timely article offers a comprehensive epidemiological overview, highlighting the increased prevalence of hypertension and major cardiovascular events among individuals with ARD, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, which remains the most extensively studied condition in this group.