A Cohort Study to Determine the Prevalence of Pulmonary Manifestations in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an ailment that has an effect on the lungs in cases of pleural inflammation; it affects the lower as well as upper lung airways. Other effects of the disease can be seen in interstitial lung problems (parenchyma) and pulmonary vasculature. Aim: Evaluating the occurrence of pulmonary manifestations in RA patients was the objective of this study. Methods: An observatory method that was cross-section in nature was employed in this study which was held in the Rheumatology and Medicine department, Jinnah Medical and Dental College Karachi Pakistan for the one-year duration from June 2020 to June 2021. Eighty subjects were included in this study, and all of them underwent a general examination, their medical history was taken into account. Several lab tests were performed on the patients, ESR, BUN, CRP, HRCT, ALT, radiological investigations, and chest X-rays were included. Results: In this study42 percent of patients presented with pulmonary manifestations. About 45.70 percent of the patients presented with abnormalities in the spirometry test, 42.85 percent showed HRCT abnormalities. The HRCT scores vary with age, TJC (Tender Joint Count), ESR, and SJC.FEV, 1 HRCT, and FCV showed a negative correlation among each other. However other variables did not show any statistically significant correlation. Conclusion: RA showed the prevalence of pulmonary affection, and this can be observed in pulmonary and radiological functions. There was an associationof age, pulmonary functions, and ESR.