Sinusitis, 'common cold' tied with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis: study

The Results of the study are as follows:

The researchers identified 741 RA cases and 2,223 controls (both median age 55, 76% female). Acute sinusitis (OR 1.61, 95% CI:1.05,2.45), chronic sinusitis (OR 2.16, 95% CI:1.39,3.35), and asthma (OR 1.39, 95% CI:1.03,1.87) were associated with increased risk of RA. Acute respiratory tract disease burden during the pre-index exposure period was also associated with increased RA risk (OR 1.30 per 10 codes, 95% CI:1.08,1.55). Acute pharyngitis was associated with seronegative (OR 1.68, 95% CI:1.02,2.74) but not seropositive RA; chronic rhinitis/pharyngitis was associated with seropositive (OR 2.46, 95% CI:1.01,5.99) but not seronegative RA. Respiratory tract diseases tended towards higher associations in smokers, especially >10 packyears (OR 1.52, 95% CI:1.02,2.27; p=0.10 for interaction).

Thus, the researchers concluded that Acute/chronic sinusitis and pharyngitis and acute respiratory burden increased RA risk. The mucosal paradigm of RA pathogenesis may involve the upper respiratory tract.

Reference:

Association of sinusitis and upper respiratory tract diseases with incident rheumatoid arthritis: A case-control study by Vanessa L. Kronzer, et al. published in the Journal of Rheumatology.