Associations of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lung diseases, and acute respiratory exacerbations among people who smoke in the prospective COPDGene study
Authors' conclusion
In this large prospective study, people who smoke with RA were more likely to have ILA and BR than those without RA, but had similar prevalences of COPD and MP. Participants with RA, particularly those with COPD, had higher risk of acute respiratory exacerbation.
Study context
- Population
- People who currently or previously smoke in the multicentre prospective COPDGene cohort
- Participants
- 76 vs 8,175
- Exposure
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) vs non-RA comparators among people who smoke
- RAn = 76
- Non-RAn = 8,175reference
- Outcome
- Prevalence of interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA), bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and mucus plugging (high-resolution CT and spirometry); risk of acute respiratory exacerbation
- Follow-up
- 10 years
Methodological detailsmulticentre, multivariable Cox regression accounting for competing mortality risk
- Multicentre
- Multivariable Cox regression accounting for competing mortality risk
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of ILA
P = 0.0002
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prevalence of bronchiectasis
P = 0.027
Prevalence of COPD
P = 0.69
Prevalence of mucus plugging
P = 0.17
| Outcome | aHR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Acute respiratory exacerbation · 10 years of follow-up | 1.68 (1.25–2.26) | |
| Acute respiratory exacerbation, RA with COPDvs non-RA without COPD (stratified) · 10 years of follow-upHighest risk | 3.57 (2.15–5.94) | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Associations of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lung diseases, and acute respiratory exacerbations among people who smoke in the prospective COPDGene study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 14 September 2026. doi:10.
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