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 of RA patients (85 females and 15 males) who visited Baghdad Teaching Hospital/Rheumatology Unit from January 2021 till 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' cardiovascular disease knowledge. Results: Among hundred Iraqi patients with RA, the median age was 51.23 +/- 8.4 years. The findings of the study revealed that 23% had high risk for CVD and 27% & 50% had moderate and low risk respectively based on 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 week agreement between them, only 31% had corresponding answers. Conclusions: The study showed an elevated risk of CVD in rheumatoid arthritis patients, as well as a gap between actual and perceived CVD risk.