Predictors of progression in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: A single-center retrospective study from China

Aim Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is associated with high mortality, especially in progressive ILD. We aimed to identify predictors of disease progression in the early stages of ILD in a large sample of patients with RA. Method The medical records of 201 RA-ILD patients were retrospectively analyzed. According to changes in their pulmonary function tests, patients were divided into progressive disease and stable disease groups. Data were collected on clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, chest high-resolution computed tomography, and therapeutic agents. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of ILD progression. Results During a median follow up of 38 months, 105 (52.5%) patients were diagnosed with progressive ILD. These patients were mostly male, past or present smokers (P = 0.028, P = 0.021, respectively). Higher Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index score and higher Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) were observed in the ILD progression group (P = 0.003, P < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in baseline respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, or laboratory features. Multivariate analysis indicated that high DAS28-ESR, definite usual interstitial pneumonia pattern, fibrosis score, and less use of cyclophosphamide were independent risk factors for RA-ILD progression. Fifteen (7.46%) patients died during the follow up, and the most frequent cause of death was lung infection. Conclusion Our results suggested that high disease activity, definite usual interstitial pneumonia pattern, fibrosis score, and less use of cyclophosphamide at the onset of ILD may indicate the progression of ILD in RA patients.