ED, determined by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), will be evaluated at baseline in 3000 RA patients free of previous cardiovascular events. Incident CHD events during the 3-year planned follow-up will be registered. A measure of the incremental yield of ED will be obtained comparing 2-year Framingham risk score for CHD (FRS) and FRS plus ED differential prognostic performances by C-statics and risk reclassification analysis.