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COPD and rheumatoid arthritis: shared inflammatory pathways and clinical implications
Mohamed Abdulkadir1, Catherine Greene2
1Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland.
Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
|November 14, 2025
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease share inflammatory pathways, increasing patient morbidity. Increased awareness and screening for COPD in RA patients are crucial for better management and outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology and Pulmonology
- Immunoinflammatory Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are chronic inflammatory conditions with overlapping risk factors and pathogenesis.
- The co-occurrence of RA and COPD presents significant clinical challenges and increases patient morbidity.
- The link between RA and COPD is often under-recognized in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the emerging evidence linking Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
- To explore shared inflammatory pathways, genetic factors, and environmental influences.
- To highlight diagnostic challenges and management strategies for patients with both RA and COPD.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of PubMed and Scopus databases.
- Keywords included 'rheumatoid arthritis,' 'COPD,' 'pulmonary involvement,' and 'inflammatory overlap.'
- Synthesis of findings on shared mechanisms, diagnostic issues, and treatment considerations.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests shared inflammatory pathways, genetic susceptibility, and environmental risk factors (smoking, pollution) link RA and COPD.
- Symptom overlap leads to diagnostic challenges, with frequent underdiagnosis of COPD in RA patients.
- Dual disease burden significantly impacts clinical management and patient outcomes.
Conclusions:
- COPD should be recognized as a potential pulmonary manifestation of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- Systematic screening for COPD in RA patients is essential for early detection.
- Integrated care models and multidisciplinary collaboration are vital for optimizing patient outcomes and reducing disease burden.
Keywords:
COPDRheumatoid arthritischronic conditionscomorbidityinflammationpathophysiologypulmonologyrheumatologyMore Related Videos
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