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Increased occurrence of cardiovascular events and comorbidities in a general rheumatology cohort

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Abstract

Background

To identify cardiovascular and other comorbidities in a general rheumatology cohort.

Methods

Interviews/retrospective chart audits were conducted on 1,000 patients attending rheumatology outpatient clinics of a university teaching hospital. Comorbidities were classified using the Charlson comorbidity index (Ambrose et al. in Ir J Med Sci 178(1):53–55, 2009).

Results

Mean age 58 ± 15.3 years, mean BMI 26. Of the patients, 400 (40%) were diagnosed with dyslipidemia and hypertension (p = 0.002), 160 (16%) with obesity and 80 (8%) with hypothyroidism. Overall 160 (16%) patients were diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD). Of these, 120 (75%) had RA (p = 0.001), 100 (63%) were male, mean age 60 ± 15.8 years, 120 (75%) had dyslipidemia and BMI > 30 (p = 0.002), 112 (70%) were smokers (p = 0.002), 40 (25%) were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 20 (12%) with hypothyroidism.

Conclusions

The increased prevalence of these comorbidities may serve as a reminder to the rheumatologists that many of their patients will have coexistent disease of which they need to be aware to properly plan their management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork, Ireland

    A. Mohammad, K. Hartery, U. Bond & M. Phelan

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Unit-3, Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway, Ireland

    A. Mohammad

Authors
  1. A. Mohammad
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  2. K. Hartery
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  3. U. Bond
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  4. M. Phelan
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Correspondence to A. Mohammad.

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Mohammad, A., Hartery, K., Bond, U. et al. Increased occurrence of cardiovascular events and comorbidities in a general rheumatology cohort. Ir J Med Sci 179, 273–276 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0475-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0475-5

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