Abstract
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with both interstitial lung disease (ILD) and obstructive airway diseases, but data on the epidemiology of pulmonary comorbidities in RA are rare.
Objectives: To estimate the prevalences of RA, COPD, ILD and coexisting RA/COPD or RA/ILD.
Methods: This is a retrospective observational study using claims data for individuals enrolled in one health system located in the Southwestern United States. Patients had diagnoses of interest during the study period July 1, 2004 through December 31, 2013. The diagnoses were supported by medical record abstraction.
Results: The crude prevalence of COPD among persons with RA (24.4%) was much higher than that of persons in the general population (7.72%). The crude prevalence of ILDs among persons with RA (7.07%) was also much higher than that of the general population (1.46%). These differences persist after adjustment for differences in age and sex. Women had significantly higher prevalence of RA+COPD and RA+ILD than men.
Total (N), Prevalence (95%CI) | Women (N) Prevalence (95%CI) | Men (N) Prevalence (95%CI) | |
COPD | 24719, 7.72%(7.62-7.81) | 13505, 7.36%(7.24-7.48) | 11214,8.20%(8.05-8.3) |
RA | 7045, 2.20%(2.15-2.25) | 5221, 2.85%(2.77-2.92) | 1824, 1.33%(1.27-1.40) |
ILD | 4675, 1.46%(1.42-1.50) | 2570, 1.40%(1.35-1.46) | 2105, 1.54%(1.47-1.61) |
RA + COPD | 1721, 0.54%(0.51-0.56)- | 1212, 0.66%(0.62-0.70) | 509, 0.37%(0.34-0.41) |
RA + ILD | 498, 0.16%(0.14-0.17) | 360, 0.20%(0.18-0.22) | 138, 0.10%(0.08-0.12) |
Conclusions: Patients with RA have substantially increased prevalence of COPD and ILD. Women with RA have a higher risk of either of these pulmonary comorbidities.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016