ASSESSMENT OF PULMONARY FUNCTION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS ATTENDING RHEUMATOLOGY CLINIC

Dr Bhaskar Thakuria; Dr Kunal Dip Saha; Dr Nilakshi Goswami

Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2019

ASSESSMENT OF PULMONARY FUNCTION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS ATTENDING RHEUMATOLOGY CLINIC

Dr Bhaskar Thakuria, Dr Kunal Dip Saha, Dr Nilakshi Goswami

Abstract :

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary involvement is a frequent and among the most severe extra–articular manifestations of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) ranking as the second cause of mortality in this patient population. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the lung parenchyma, airways and pleura. Pulmonary complications are directly responsible for 10–20% of all mortality in RA patients. Spirometry is a tool in monitoring for pulmonary function abnormalities in patients of rheumatoid arthritis. Abnormalities detected by pulmonary function tests (PFT) may precede symptoms by years and lead to early diagnosis of pulmonary fiosis in rheumatoid arthritis and hence intervention. OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe the pattern of pulmonary function abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis patients attending Rheumatology Clinic. Materials and methods: • This is a hospital based observational study. • 50 Patients are selected using convenient simple random sampling. • Patients with history of asthma, COPD and other respiratory disease are excluded from study. • Pulmonary function tests are performed using Spiro lab III according to the American Thoracic Society recommendations. Results: From our study we have found that PFT abnormalities in RA patients are more prevalent  among females affecting 50% of patients  among patient aged more than 60 yrs (83%)population.  with increase disease duration.  Among seropositive patients around 44% of patients. Conclusion: Pulmonary affection in various spectrum does involve a sizeable percentage of people with RA and can have significant beå on treatment regimen and overall quality of life of these patients. Screening of RA patients with spirometer helps in early detection of pulmonary involvement