COPD and RA: Mortality risks and opportunity for intervention

Résumé fourni par la source

Introduction: Our research showed that there are shared genetics between certain musculoskeletal conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and COPD1. Here, we further explore how these conditions develop and their impact on people’s long-term health to uncover opportunities for early intervention. Methods: We investigated over 11 million records of individuals over the age of 40 in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). A binomial test was used to determine if one disease was consistently diagnosed before the other at a proportion ≥50%. Cox Proportional Hazards model was applied for a survival analysis of mortality. Individuals with both diseases were matched to those with only COPD or RA, compared to a consistent control group without either disease. We investigated the impact of 26 measured risk factors and their role in the co-occurrence of pairs of respiratory and musculoskeletal using a mediation analysis. Results: Having both COPD and RA increased mortality risk compared to either condition alone. The highest mortality risk was in individuals diagnosed with RA before COPD (HR 2.90: 2.75–3.07) followed by those with COPD before RA (HR 2.69: 2.53–2.87). 65.1 percent of people with both conditions were diagnosed with RA before COPD with a 11.7-year average interval. This interval presents a potential window for intervention. Smoking, Low LDL and physical activity were potential mediators in the time to developing COPD. Discussion: People with RA are at risk of developing COPD; with serious implications. The 11.7 year interval presents time to intervene via smoking cessation and respiratory monitoring to reduce COPD risk. 1. Murrin O et al. EBioMedicine. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105584.

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