Based on the collateral disease theory， this paper systematically reviews the mechanism laws and the prevention and treatment strategies for the comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis （RA） and coronary heart disease （CHD）. It is believed that the collateral vessels serve as the core pathways connecting the limbs and joints with the zang-fu （脏腑） organs. The comorbidity of RA and CHD follows a progressive transmission pattern from wang bi （尪痹）， vessel bi （脉痹） to heart bi （心痹）. In this sequence， wang bi refers to damp-heat obstructing the qi collaterals of the limbs and joints. Vessel bi is characterized by the binding of phlegm and stasis， along with hyperactive changes in the collateral pathways， and pathogenic factors penetrating the blood vessels. Heart bi occurs when latent toxins damage the collaterals and lead to failure of heart yang. In terms of prevention and treatment strategies， the principle of "treating disease before it arises" should be adopted as guidance， taking overall therapeutic goal as preventing pathogenic factors from penetrating inward along the collaterals， that is from the body surface and limbs into the zang-fu organs. At the wang bi stage， treatment focuses on clearing heat and draining dampness， diffusing and unblocking qi collaterals， while at the vessel bi stage， it is recommended to clear up phlegm， dissolve stasis， and unblock blood collaterals. At the heart bi stage， treatment should focus on activating blood and unblocking the collaterals， restoring yang and diffusing bi.

Based on the collateral disease theory， this paper systematically reviews the mechanism laws and the prevention and treatment strategies for the comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis （RA） and coronary heart disease （CHD）. It is believed that the collateral vessels serve as the core pathways connecting the limbs and joints with the zang-fu （脏腑） organs. The comorbidity of RA and CHD follows a progressive transmission pattern from wang bi （尪痹）， vessel bi （脉痹） to heart bi （心痹）. In this sequence， wang bi refers to damp-heat obstructing the qi collaterals of the limbs and joints. Vessel bi is characterized by the binding of phlegm and stasis， along with hyperactive changes in the collateral pathways， and pathogenic factors penetrating the blood vessels. Heart bi occurs when latent toxins damage the collaterals and lead to failure of heart yang. In terms of prevention and treatment strategies， the principle of "treating disease before it arises" should be adopted as guidance， taking overall therapeutic goal as preventing pathogenic factors from penetrating inward along the collaterals， that is from the body surface and limbs into the zang-fu organs. At the wang bi stage， treatment focuses on clearing heat and draining dampness， diffusing and unblocking qi collaterals， while at the vessel bi stage， it is recommended to clear up phlegm， dissolve stasis， and unblock blood collaterals. At the heart bi stage， treatment should focus on activating blood and unblocking the collaterals， restoring yang and diffusing bi.