Rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

With an ageing population and an increasing intensity of risk factors, the burden of comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis has been increasing over the past 30 years. A recent international multicentre study found that individuals with RA had a median of two comorbid conditions and the prevalence was greatest in countries with a high GDP. This is a major challenge for the clinician as even remaining up to date with guidelines for common comorbidities can be difficult. As a rheumatologist, one cannot expect to be an expert in managing each individual condition but should at least be aware of the complex interplay between these comorbidities and the management of RA itself. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the relationship between RA and the major comorbidities that are encountered, considering prevalence, mechanistic relationships, impacts upon the disease and treatments and finally providing pragmatic strategies for screening and guidance on management.