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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Immunol.
Sec. Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders : Autoimmune Disorders
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1494003

Bidirectional association between rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Provisionally accepted
Meijiao Wang Meijiao Wang *Liaoyao Wang Liaoyao Wang Yingqi Zhai Yingqi Zhai Hai-chang Li Hai-chang Li Lin Huang Lin Huang Zhijun Xie Zhijun Xie Chengping Wen Chengping Wen Xuanlin Li Xuanlin Li
  • Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prevalent and incapacitating conditions, sharing common pathogenic pathways such as tobacco use and pulmonary inflammation. The influence of respiratory conditions including COPD on RA has been observed, meanwhile RA may constituting one of the risk factors for COPD. It unclear that whether a bidirectional associate between RA and COPD. Our study aims to explore the bidirectional relationship between RA and COPD.We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase for observational studies from the databases inception to February 20, 2024, utilizing medical subject headings (MeSH) and keywords. We included studies in which RA and COPD were studied as either exposure or outcome variables. Statistical analyses were conducted employing STATA software (version 14.0). The relationship was reported as odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's regression.Nineteen studies with 1,549,181 participants were included. Risk of bias varied from low to moderate, with evidence levels rated as low or very low. Pooled analysis revealed a significant association between RA and increased COPD risk (OR=1.41, 95%CI 1.13 to 1.76, I 2 =97.8%, P=0.003). Subgroup analyses showed similar COPD risk elevations in both of genders, seropositive/seronegative RA, cohort and case control studies. Additionally, there was a significant RA risk increase among those with COPD (OR=1.36, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.76, I 2 =55.0%, P=0.022), particularly among females and seropositive RA, and cohort studies.The meta-analysis identifies a significant bidirectional association between RA and COPD, emphasizing mutually increased risk. Recognizing this connection may can inform proactive approaches to disease prevention and management, potentially reducing the public health burden and improving quality of life.

    Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Bidirectional association, COPD, ra

    Received: 10 Sep 2024; Accepted: 11 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Wang, Zhai, Li, Huang, Xie, Wen and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Meijiao Wang, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.