Rheumatology experts warn of increased cardiovascular risks for patients

On World Rheumatism Day, the German Society for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (DGRh) has advised patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases to undergo early medical screening for cardiovascular risks. Approximately 1.8 million adults in Germany live with such conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis.

Research indicates that the inflammation associated with these diseases can independently increase heart attack and stroke risks. For instance, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis may face a roughly 40 percent higher risk of heart attack, while those with spondyloarthritis face an increased risk ranging from 21 to 51 percent. Experts emphasize that clinicians must consider the patient's entire risk profile, including inflammation, rather than relying solely on traditional factors like blood pressure or diabetes.

In a related context regarding joint health, discussions around healthy aging have highlighted the impact of osteoarthritis, which affects 595 million people globally. Modern regenerative approaches, such as autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) therapy, are gaining attention as potential methods to address the biological aging processes and chronic inflammation that drive joint degeneration.