['To evaluate the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Greek patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) under medical followup, and to assess the contribution of traditional CVD and RA-specific factors associated with CVD development.', "This is a historic cohort study; information was collected from medical records of patients who had > 2 years' followup. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic variables were evaluated for association with development of CVD.", 'A total of 325 RA patients were studied: 250 women, mean age at RA onset 44 ± 15 years, and 75 men, mean age at RA onset 51 ± 15 years; median followup was 10 years. Fourteen women (5.6%) and 12 men (16%) developed CVD (p = 0.004). Multi-adjusted analysis revealed that hypertension (hazard ratio 3.76, 95% CI 0.99-15.06) was associated with incidence of CVD; late age at disease onset (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.11), elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level 1 year after start of followup (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05), and leflunomide treatment (HR per 1 year of treatment = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.05) were also positively associated with CVD development.'] Is cardiovascular disease related to hypertension in patients with rheumatoid arthritis : a greek cohort study?