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Evaluation of Changes in Hydration and Body Cell Mass with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis after Exercise Program for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Published on: July 14, 2023
Airways obstruction in rheumatoid arthritis
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|June 1, 1979
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients frequently experience airflow obstruction, even with normal chest X-rays. This study found a high prevalence of lung airway disease in RA, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease primarily affecting joints.
- Previous reports suggest an association between RA and obliterative bronchiolitis.
- The prevalence of lung involvement, specifically airway disease, in RA patients remains under-investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of airflow obstruction in unselected patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- To compare spirometry results between rheumatoid arthritis patients and matched control subjects.
- To investigate airway disease as a potential common form of lung involvement in RA.
Main Methods:
- Spirometry was conducted on 100 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
- 84 control subjects, matched for age, sex, and smoking history, also underwent spirometry.
- Chest radiographs were assessed to ensure normality in the RA cohort.
Main Results:
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis exhibited significantly lower FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and MMEFR compared to controls.
- 39 out of 100 RA patients (39%) displayed abnormal spirometry results.
- At least 32 RA patients (32%) demonstrated evidence of airflow obstruction.
Conclusions:
- Airflow obstruction is highly prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis patients, irrespective of chest radiograph findings.
- Airway disease is suggested to be the most frequent type of lung complication in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Pulmonary function testing is crucial for detecting lung involvement in RA patients.
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