Autonomic Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Can Heart Rate Variability Analysis Contribute to a Better Evaluation of the Cardiovascular Profile of a Patient?

(1) Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune etiology. Increased scientific evidence suggests that immune-mediated inflammatory dis-eases are associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. Studies proved that autonomic imbalance is correlated with RA evolution and may explain augmented cardiovascular pathology and mortality not attributable to classical risk factors.

24 h Holter ECG Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis-A Potential Role for a Precise Evaluation of QT Interval Duration and Associated Arrhythmic Complications.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased systemic inflammatory burden associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality. Prolonged ventricular repolarisation evaluated by QT interval duration is a risk factor for cardiovascular and total mortality. In RA, mortality risk is correlated with dynamics and cumulative incidence of QTc prolongation rather than QTc value.

QT Interval Prolongation in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis-Are the Holter ECG Recordings a Better Option for QT Interval Evaluation?

Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis has important consequences on patient survival. Myocardial fibrosis and microcirculation involvement can generate arrhythmic complications, which can be associated with a higher death risk. QT interval prolongation is considered as a risk factor for ectopic ventricular events and can be evaluated using standard short ECG recordings or 24-h Holter ECG recordings.