Multimorbidity and risk of infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Population-based case–control study
Authors' conclusion
In Korean adults with RA, multimorbidity substantially increases infection risk in a dose-response manner, particularly for cutaneous and nonfatal infections.
Study context
- Population
- Korean adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (ICD-10 M05-M06 with same-day DMARD prescriptions, 2018–2019), HIRA database; major immunodeficiencies or recent infections excluded4 controls per case
- Comparison
- RA with ≥10 chronic conditions vs <10 conditions
- Outcome
- First serious, opportunistic or herpes zoster infection
- Follow-up
- January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2022
Methodological detailsnationwide, population-based, matched (4 controls per case) on age, sex and seropositivity
- Nationwide
- Population-based
- Matched (4 controls per case) on age, sex and seropositivity
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Infection (serious, opportunistic, herpes zoster) by multimorbidity
aOR, serious infection
1.44
95% CI 1.32–1.58
aOR, opportunistic infection
2.19
1.06–4.53
aOR, herpes zoster
1.18
1.05–1.34
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Subgroups
- Associations consistent across subgroups
Fatal vs nonfatal infections
- Multimorbidity increased nonfatal but not fatal infections
Major infection types
- Only complicated skin and soft tissue infections significant
Original publication
Multimorbidity and risk of infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Population-based case–control study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 21 March 2026. doi:10.
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