Key clinical point: Risk for interstitial lung disease (ILD) was higher among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were older, had longer disease duration, were male, were positive for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), and had higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
Major finding: The factors associated with an increased risk for RA-ILD were older age (weighted mean difference [WMD] 5.77 years; P < .00001), longer RA duration (WMD 0.80 years; P = .02), male sex (pooled odds ratio [OR] 1.92; P < .00001), positive RF (OR 1.72; P < .00001), positive ACPA (OR 1.58; P < .00001), higher ESR level (WMD 7.41 mm/h; P = .005), and higher CRP level (WMD 4.98 mg/L; P = .02).
Study details: Findings are from a systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 retrospective cohort studies and seven observational studies including 1887 patients with RA-ILD and 8066 patients with RA without ILD.
Disclosures: The authors received no specific funding for this study and declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Zhang M et al. Factors associated with interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2023;18(6):e0286191 (Jun 23). Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286191