People With Rheumatoid Arthritis May Have a Higher Chance of Developing COPD

 

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a 47% higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD.  Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1% of the world and is an autoimmune disease affecting healthy tissue and joints in the body.  COPD affects 6.4% of the world and causes coughing and excessive amounts of mucus.  

A study suggests COPD is linked to inflammation in the body.

In a database in British Columbia, 25,396 people were randomly selected for a study and it was shown that there was a higher risk of hospitalization for COPD in those with rheumatoid arthritis, around 47%.  

Researchers suggest early intervention with COPD symptoms in those with rheumatoid arthritis before irreversible damage is done in the lungs.