Key clinical point: Every 1 in 6 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) develop interstitial lung disease (ILD) within 20 years, with RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD), even when asymptomatic and radiologically limited, being significantly associated with shorter survival.
Major finding: The cumulative incidence of RA-ILD was 15.3% at 20 years after RA diagnosis, with mortality being higher in patients with RA-ILD vs. matched RA comparators (hazard ratio 2.42; 95% CI 1.32-4.41).
Study details: This was a population-based cohort study involving 645 patients with incident RA.
Disclosures: This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and others. R Vassallo and JM Davis III reported receiving research grants from various sources.
Source: Samhouri BF et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 (Jan 7). Doi: 10.1002/acr.24856.