Interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis: incidence, prevalence and related drug prescriptions between 2007 and 2020
Authors' conclusion
RA-ILD is rare and mainly affects elderly persons. No trend in incidence was observed but treatment strategies have enlarged.
Study context
- Population
- German individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in nationwide BARMER claims data, 2007–202040,686 in 2007 to 85,175 in 2020
- Outcome
- Prevalence, incidence and medication of ILD among individuals with RA
Methodological detailsnationwide claims data
- Nationwide claims data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
ILD among persons with RA · 2007–2020
Prevalence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) per year (slight decline since 2013)
1.7%-2.2%
Incident ILD per year (stable over time)
0.13%-0.21%
ILD more common in seropositive RA, in men and in the elderly; mean age in 2020 (years)
72
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Drug prescriptions in RA-ILD over time
- GC use declined
- 84% to 68%
- csDMARD use declined
- 83% to 55%
- NSAID use declined
- 62% to 38%
- bDMARD use rose
- 16% to 24%
Drug prescriptions in RA-ILD · 2020
- tsDMARDs
- 7%
- Antifibrotics
- 3%
- Analgesics
- 44%
- Opioids
- 30%
Opioid use by specialist care
- No specialist involved (highest)
- 39%
- Rheumatology care
- 32%
- Pulmonology care (less frequent)
- 21%
- DMARD therapy more common if a rheumatologist was involved and antifibrotics if a pulmonologist was involved
Original publication
Interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis: incidence, prevalence and related drug prescriptions between 2007 and 2020. RMD Open. Published 20 January 2023. doi:10.
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