The prevalence of bronchopulmonary infection among patients with rheumatoid arthritis versus non rheumatoid arthritis patients
- Author:
Anwar Arshad
;
Rozita Rashid
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Bronchopulmonary infection, Lung infection, Rheumatoid arthrtitis
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
2008;15(2):24-28
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A high frequency of bronchopulmonary infections complicating rheumatoid arthritis has been described in reports of case series. This study was undertaken
to confirm and compare these finding in patients with RA and control. 117 patients
with RA and 103 patients with OA/soft tissue rheumatism as controls. Study subjects were studied using their medical records available from hospitals‘ casenotes and
GP data base. Details of all documented bronchopulmonary infections for the preceding year including lower and upper respiratory tract infections were
recorded. Details of hospital admissions due to bronchopulmonary infection, antibiotic usage and functional capacity were also recorded. Mean age for RA was
56 and 59 for control. There were 34 males and 83 females in RA group, however, 14 males and 55 females in control group. There were at least 1 episodes of BPI in
66.7% (p<0.05) patients with RA and 48.5% in control. 69.2% (p<0.05) of subgroup patients with RA were noted to have poorer functional capacity compared to 50%
in control. More RA patients with BPI (15%) (p<0.05) were admitted to hospital compared to control (3.8%). Significance findings were noted in terms of prevalence
of BPI in RA patients compared to controls as well as patients with RA have severe course of BPI warranting hospitalization. RA patients with poorer functional
capacity also noted to have high incidence of BPI.
- Full text:W020151019327338090253.pdf
