Unmasking Subclinical Atherosclerosis: The Impact of Carotid Ultrasound on the Evaluation of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most prevalent autoimmune disease, characterized by chronic joint inflammation and systemic symptoms, particularly affecting cardiovascular health through atherosclerosis development. This study investigates the role of carotid ultrasound in detecting atherosclerosis in RA patients by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). We conducted a comprehensive review of studies published from 2017 to 2024, sourced from PubMed, focusing specifically on CIMT measurements in RA patients. Our analysis included eight studies involving a total of 1,242 participants. The results demonstrate that increased CIMT measurements in RA patients are associated with a higher risk of subclinical atherosclerosis. Notably, most studies (N = 7) reported statistically significant increases in CIMT, while only one study found no significant difference. These findings suggest that CIMT is a valuable tool for assessing cardiovascular risk in RA patients, advocating for the more frequent use of carotid ultrasound as a noninvasive clinical assessment method for this population. However, further multicentric randomized controlled trials and enhanced training for healthcare providers are necessary to ensure accurate CIMT measurements in routine practice.