Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is actually an umbrella term for two different respiratory illnesses. One is chronic bronchitis and the other is emphysema. Both are serious illnesses, and there are 16 million Americans who have been diagnosed with COPD. Fourteen million have chronic bronchitis and 2 million have emphysema. Now a new study shows people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are twice as likely as healthy people to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The study was conducted with Israel's largest health care provider, Clalit Health Services. Scientists compared information on almost 16,000 RA patients over 20 years old with more than 15,000 healthy controls who were matched for age and gender. They found the incidence of COPD in RA patients was 8.9 percent compared with 4.4 percent for the controls.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. It is different than the more common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, which most often develops as we age. But like osteoarthritis, RA causes pain, swelling and stiffness in joints. What makes it different is that it also affects other body parts, such as the mouth and lungs. The severe form can last a lifetime.
The link between RA and COPD was evident even when factors such as smoking, age, obesity and gender were controlled for, according to Israeli researchers. The study was presented at the annual conference of the European League Against Rheumatism in London.
Robin Westen is ThirdAge’s medical reporter. Check for her daily updates.
See what others have to say about this story or leave a comment of your own.
