SynthesisMedicine2026
Prevalence and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in rheumatoid arthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease known for its systemic inflammatory effects and associated comorbidities. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been increasingly recognized as a significant comorbidity in RA patients. This meta-analysis aims to quantify the prevalence and relative risk of COPD in patients with RA compared to the general population.
methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar was conducted until April 30th, 2024. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria, focusing on those reporting data on COPD in RA patients. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled prevalence rate and risk ratios, along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), to report the overall effect size. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager and MedCalc software, with results pooled using the Mantel-Haenszel random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots, Egger regression, and Begg rank correlation tests.
resultsTwenty-four studies with a combined population of 1,710,600 individuals were included. The pooled prevalence of COPD in RA patients was 7.06% (95% CI 4.56-10.13). Subgroup analysis showed a prevalence of 6.36% in Asia and 7.1% in the studies from the rest of the world. RA patients had a significantly higher risk of developing COPD compared to the general population, with an risk ratios of 1.58 (95% CI 1.37-1.82, P < .0001). The relative risk in Asian populations was 1.61 (95% CI, 1.19-2.18, P < .0001) compared to 1.56 (95% CI, 1.24-1.97, P < .0001) in studies from the rest of the world. According to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, most studies were of high or moderate quality. According to Egger regression and Begg rank correlation tests, all analyses were free of publication bias.
conclusionThis meta-analysis offers strong evidence that individuals with RA are at a significantly higher risk of developing COPD. These findings emphasize the need for regular screening for COPD in RA patients and the implementation of proactive management strategies to reduce this risk. Further research is required to fully understand this relationship.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.