Ocorrência de doenças cardiovasculares e pulmonares em pacientes com artrite reumatóide

Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic chronical inflammatory disease and may show some extra articular symptoms, reaching other organs. Objective: To observe the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and Lung Diseases and check for the presence of risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methodology: This research was carried out at César Cals General Hospital, with 44 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Results: 40 (91%) were female and 4 (9%) were male, aged 56 to 65 years prevalent. The cardiovascular diseases occurred in 12 patients (27.27%), which were: four acute heart attack, four hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, two varicose veins, one vasculitis and one aortic stenosis. The lung diseases occurred in only 5 patients (asthma, tuberculosis, respiratory allergies, bronchitis and pneumonia). About the risk factors for cardiovascular and lung diseases, it was found that most were related to lifestyle habits, such as systemic arterial hypertension 33 (30%), 29 (26.36%) smoking, sedentary life 22 (20%), alcoholism 17 (15.45%) and diabetes 9 (8.18%). Between the patients, 16 did not practice physical activity, 15 reported to have healthy eating habits. Conclusion: It was found both the occurrence of cardiovascular and lung diseases, emphasizing the importance of detection and prevention of the risk factors, cardiovascular and lung disfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to promote an early and complete treatment.