Increased risk of bronchiectasis observed in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis

Written By : Jacinthlyn Sylvia |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2024-01-17T20:30:09+05:30 | Updated On 18 Jan 2024 12:05 PM IST

In a recent study published in the journal of CHEST analyzed the coexistence of bronchiectasis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by revealing that individuals with RA face a two-fold higher risk of developing bronchiectasis when compared to individuals without this inflammatory joint disorder.

The study was conducted with a group of 50,651 individuals with RA (35,879 seropositive RA [SPRA] and 14,772 seronegative RA [SNRA]) with carefully matched control group of 253,255 participants to investigate the relationship between RA and bronchiectasis.

Over a median follow-up period of 4.3 years the individuals with RA exhibited a cumulative incidence of bronchiectasis at approximately 7%, which prompts a concern about the intricate interplay between these conditions.

After meticulous adjustment for potential confounders related to bronchiectasis this research unveiled that participants with RA bore a 2.12-fold higher risk of developing bronchiectasis when compared to their matched counterparts (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00–2.25). This suggests that beyond the shared risk factors, rheumatoid arthritis itself contributes to the increased susceptibility to bronchiectasis.

An in depth analysis into the serologic status of RA within the study highlighted an intensified risk associated with seropositive RA. The participants with SPRA underwent a remarkable 2.34-fold increase in the risk of bronchiectasis (95% CI, 2.20–2.49) by underlining the profound impact of rheumatic inflammation in the development of this pulmonary condition. Also, the individuals with seronegative RA still exhibited a 1.56-fold elevated risk (95% CI, 1.40–1.73) and emphasized the critical relationship between RA and bronchiectasis regardless of serologic status.

In conclusion, this study unravels the previously unexplored dimension of RA's impact but also underline the need for heightened clinical awareness regarding the respiratory risks in individuals with RA.

Source:

Choi, H., Han, K., Jung, J. H., Park, J., Kim, B.-G., Yang, B., Eun, Y., Kim, H., Shin, D. W., & Lee, H. (2024). Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Seropositivity on the Risk of Non–Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis. In CHEST. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2024.01.001

CHEST journalbronchiectasisrheumatoid arthritis

Source : CHEST

Jacinthlyn Sylvia

Neuroscience Masters graduate

Jacinthlyn Sylvia, a Neuroscience Master's graduate from Chennai has worked extensively in deciphering the neurobiology of cognition and motor control in aging. She also has spread-out exposure to Neurosurgery from her Bachelor’s. She is currently involved in active Neuro-Oncology research. She is an upcoming neuroscientist with a fiery passion for writing. Her news cover at Medical Dialogues feature recent discoveries and updates from the healthcare and biomedical research fields. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751