Risk of Serious Infection in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease or Bronchiectasis: A Comparative Cohort Study
Main finding · Serious infection (per 1,000 person-years)Result — go to the resultSubdistribution hazard ratio 1.60 95% CI 1.20–2.12Authors' conclusion
RA-LD, particularly RA-ILD, is associated with a significant increased risk of serious infection across anatomic sites and diverse pathogen types. RA-BR is associated with increased pulmonary infections.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with RA in the Massachusetts General Brigham Biobank (Boston, MA, USA)
- Participants
- 221 / 151 / 70 / 980
- Exposure
- RA-associated lung disease vs RA without lung disease
- RA-LDn = 221
- RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD)n = 151
- RA-associated bronchiectasis (RA-BR)n = 70
- RA-no LDn = 980reference
- Outcome
- Serious infection
Methodological detailsmatched by age, sex, and RA duration, propensity score-adjusted, Fine and Gray competing-risk models
- Matched by age, sex, and RA duration
- Propensity score-adjusted
- Fine and Gray competing-risk models
Main finding
Serious infection (per 1,000 person-years)
Subdistribution hazard ratio
1.60
95% CI 1.20–2.12
By group
RA-LDvs RA-no LD
sdHR 1.60 (95% CI 1.20–2.12)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | sdHR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Serious infection by lung disease subtypeRA-ILDvs RA-no LD | 1.79 (1.33–2.41) | |
| Serious infection by lung disease subtypeRA-BRvs RA-no LD | 1.19 (0.72–1.97) | |
| 0.512Subdistribution hazard ratio (log scale) |
Anatomic sites and pathogens
- Pulmonary, skin and soft tissue, and ear, nose, and throat infections more common in RA-LD; associated with virus, bacteria, fungus, and mycobacteria
- Influenza virus, RSV, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and nontuberculous mycobacteria more frequent in RA-LD, particularly RA-BR
Original publication
Risk of Serious Infection in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease or Bronchiectasis: A Comparative Cohort Study. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published 14 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →