Analysis of clinical characteristics in elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis patients combined with interstitial lung disease

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics in elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis(RA) patients combined with interstitial lung disease(ILD). Methods Four hundred and four cases of elderly onset RA patients were summarized.They were divided into two groups according to whether combined with ILD.Its clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and combined diseases were analyzed. Results (1)Male elderly patients with onset of RA were more likely to occur ILD than female(χ2=6.251, P=0.012). There was no significant difference in duration analysis of two groups(t=1.750, P=0.081). (2)The elderly onset patients in RA with knee pain were more likely to happen ILD(χ2=7.048, P=0.008), the difference was significant.And there was no significantly statistical difference in the shoulder joint pain(χ2=0.028, P=0.866), elbow pain(χ2=0.022, P=0.882), hand joint pain(χ2=2.041, P=0.153), hip pain(χ2=0.129, P=0.720), joint deformities(χ2=0.013, P=0.908), morning stiffness(χ2=0.000, P=0.984) and joints rheumatoid nodules(χ2=0.349, P=0.555) of two groups.(3)The elderly onset RA patients with a high level of serum RF were more likely to happen ILD(t=3.325, P=0.001), the difference was significant.And there was no significantly statistical difference in serum ANA antibodies(χ2=0.004, P=0.948), anti SSA(χ2=0.718, P=0.397), SSB antibody(χ2=0.638, P=0.424), AKA antibody(χ2=0.949, P=0.330), CCP antibody(χ2=0.500, P=0.479) and the level of ESR(t=0.582, P=0.561), CRP(t=0.381, P=0.703) and PLT(t=-1.246, P=0.213). (4)The elderly onset RA patients with ILD were more likely to appear osteoporosis(χ2=7.467, P=0.006), the difference was significant.And there was no significantly statistical difference in the occurrence of high blood pressure(χ2=0.403, P=0.526) and diabetes(χ2=0.180, P=0.671) in the two groups. Conclusion Male patients, the elderly onset RA patients with knee pain and associated with high level of serum RF more often occur with ILD.And the elderly onset RA patients with ILD are more likely to appear osteoporosis. Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis; Interstitial lung disease; Elderly onset