Prognostic impact of rheumatoid arthritis on respiratory-related mortality in non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease
Main finding · Respiratory-related deathResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 4.30 95% CI 2.17–8.52Authors' conclusion
RA is an independent predictor of respiratory-related mortality in patients with NTM-PD. This excess risk is partly explained by ILD and systemic inflammation burden.
Study context
- Population
- Patients newly diagnosed with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), 2012–202466 (4.6%) had rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Participants
- 1,420 patients
- Exposure
- RA vs non-RA
- RAn = 55
- Non-RAn = 1,354reference
- Outcome
- Respiratory-related mortality
Methodological detailsmultivariable Cox regression, propensity score matching, sequential Cox regression with stepwise adjustment
- Multivariable Cox regression
- Propensity score matching
- Sequential Cox regression with stepwise adjustment
Main finding
Respiratory-related death
Hazard ratio
4.30
95% CI 2.17–8.52
RAvs Non-RA
HR 4.30 (95% CI 2.17–8.52)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
5-year survival
log-rank p<0.001
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| 5-year survival · after matching | P = 0.029 |
Attenuation of RA effect with sequential adjustment
- HR after adjustment for interstitial lung disease (ILD) (from 3.25)
- 2.44
- Attenuation after ILD adjustment
- 24.5%
- HR after further adjustment for systemic inflammation burden (CRP)
- 2.09
- Attenuation after CRP adjustment
- 37.5%
- Log-hazard scale
Original publication
Prognostic impact of rheumatoid arthritis on respiratory-related mortality in non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease. RMD Open. Published 4 May 2026. doi:10.
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