Key clinical point: Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) remains rare; treatment strategies have diversified over years, but high demand for analgesics and opioids suggests unmet needs in pain management.
Major finding: Between 2007 and 2020, the prevalence and incidence of ILD among patients with RA were 1.6%-2.2% and 0.13%-0.21% per year, respectively, and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use increased from 16% to 24%, whereas glucocorticoid, conventional synthetic DMARD, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use declined from 84% to 68%, 83% to 55%, and 62% to 38%, respectively. However, analgesic use increased and ≈30% of patients received opioids.
Study details: This study analyzed insurance claims data of 98,435 and 142,657 patients diagnosed with RA, 257 and 1484 with prevalent ILD, and 18 and 90 with incident ILD in 2007 and 2020, respectively.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the Targeted Risk Management in Musculoskeletal Diseases network (TARISMA). Two authors declared receiving speaker fees from various sources outside this study.
Source: Albrecht K et al. Interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis: incidence, prevalence and related drug prescriptions between 2007 and 2020. RMD Open . 2023;9:e002777 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002777