Introduction:

rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, inflammatory and autoimmune disease that can affect, in addition to the joints, other organs such as the heart and lungs.

Objective:

clinical and epidemiological characterization of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who presented cardiorespiratory manifestations.

Methods:

a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 62 patients with cardiorespiratory manifestations treated in Arnaldo Milián Castro Hospital`s Rheumatology Service from January 2017 to December 2018.

Results:

the average age was 52,9 years old and female (6:1), white skin color, rural origin and occupation worker or retired predominated. Hypertension was the most frequent pathological antecedent found. Valvular insufficiency occurred in 35,5% and pericarditis in 32,3% of the patients studied. Cardiac conduction disorders and ventricular hypertrophy were evidenced in 12,9% of cases. Moderate restrictive pattern was the most frequent in respiratory function tests. 41.9% of patients were treated with steroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Conclusions:

the high frequency of cardiorespiratory manifestations related to the evolution of rheumatoid arthritis was confirmed.

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