{"title":"Knitting the Threads of Silk through Time: Behçet's Disease-Past, Present, and Future.","authors":"Fahd Adeeb, Austin G Stack, Alexander D Fraser","doi":"10.1155/2017/2160610","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2160610","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic relapsing vasculitis that affects vessels of all types and sizes with a broad spectrum of phenotypic heterogeneity and complex immunopathogenesis. Efforts by the scientific community to resolve the unmet needs of BD and gaps in our knowledge have been hampered by considerable challenges that primarily relate to the rare nature of the disease in many parts of the world and its heterogeneity. Controversies remain in many aspects of the disease including the diagnostic criteria, immunopathogenesis and biomarker discovery, geographical variation, and therapeutic considerations. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our scientific understanding of BD, shed new insights into diagnostic and treatment strategies, and discuss residual gaps in our knowledge that will serve as the basis for current and future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"2160610"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/2160610","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35553927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hard Physical Work Intensifies the Occupational Consequence of Physician-Diagnosed Back Disorder: Prospective Cohort Study with Register Follow-Up among 10,000 Workers.","authors":"Emil Sundstrup, Lars Louis Andersen","doi":"10.1155/2017/1037051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1037051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While musculoskeletal pain is common in the population, less is known about its labor market consequences in relation to physical activity at work. This study investigates whether hard physical work aggravates the consequences of back disorder. Using Cox regression analyses, we estimated the joint association of physical activity at work and physician-diagnosed back disorder in 2010 with the risk of register-based long-term sickness absence (LTSA) of at least 6 consecutive weeks during 2011-2012 among 9,544 employees from the general working population (Danish Work Environment Cohort Study). Control variables were age, gender, psychosocial work environment, smoking, leisure physical activity, BMI, depression, and mental health. At baseline, 19.4% experienced high low-back pain intensity (≥5, 0-9 scale) and 15.2% had diagnosed back disorder. While high pain intensity was a general predictor for LTSA, physician-diagnosed back disorder was a stronger predictor among those with hard physical work (HR 2.23; 95% CI 1.68-2.96) compared with light work (HR 1.40; 95% CI 1.09-1.80). Similarly, physician-diagnosed back disorder with simultaneous high pain intensity predicted LTSA to a greater extent among those with hard physical work. In conclusion, the occupational consequence of physician-diagnosed back disorder on LTSA is greater among employees with hard physical work.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"1037051"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/1037051","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34778363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexander Tsoukas, Sasha Bernatsky, Lawrence Joseph, David L Buckeridge, Patrick Bélisle, Christian A Pineau
{"title":"Clinically Apparent Arterial Thrombosis in Persons with Systemic Vasculitis.","authors":"Alexander Tsoukas, Sasha Bernatsky, Lawrence Joseph, David L Buckeridge, Patrick Bélisle, Christian A Pineau","doi":"10.1155/2017/3572768","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3572768","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To estimate the incidence rate of clinically apparent arterial thrombotic events and associated comorbidities in patients with primary systemic vasculitis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using large cohort administrative data from Quebec, Canada, we identified patients with vasculitis, including polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Incident acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) after the diagnosis of vasculitis were ascertained in the PAN and GPA group via billing and hospitalization data. These were compared to rates of a general population comparator group. The incidences of comorbidities (type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension) were also collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 626 patients identified with vasculitis, 19.7% had PAN, 2.9% had Kawasaki disease, 23.8% had GPA, 52.4% had GCA, and 1.3% had Takayasu arteritis. The AMI rate was substantially higher in males aged 18-44 with PAN, with rates up to 268.1 events per 10,000 patient years [95% CI 67.1-1070.2], approximately 30 times that in the age- and sex-matched control group. The CVA rate was also substantially higher, particularly in adults aged 45-65. Patients with vasculitis had elevated incidences of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension versus the general population.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Atherothrombotic rates were elevated in patients identified as having primary systemic vasculitis. While incident rates of cardiovascular comorbidities were also increased, the substantial elevation in AMIs seen in young adults suggests a disease-specific component which requires further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"3572768"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/3572768","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35173093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cross-Cultural Validation of Urdu Version KOOS in Indian Population with Primary Knee Osteoarthritis.","authors":"Mahamed Ateef, Sivachidambaram Kulandaivelan, Mazen Alqahtani","doi":"10.1155/2017/1206706","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1206706","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The primary aim of this study was to translate a self-reported questionnaire (KOOS) from English to Urdu and then to see its internal consistency, agreement, test-retest reliability, and validity among primary OA knee patients.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>First, KOOS questionnaire was translated from English language to Urdu through standardized cross-cultural protocol. This translated version of KOOS was administered to 111 radiographically diagnosed primary OA knee patients at two times with 48-hour interval in-between. Cronbach's alpha, floor and ceiling effect, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), absolute agreement %, and Spearman correlation were used to fulfill our objectives.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Average time to administer this questionnaire was 20 minutes. There was good internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.7246 to 0.9139. The absolute agreement of each item between two tests ranged from 81.08% to 98.20%. Test-retest reliability was excellent (\"<i>r</i>\" ranged from 0.9673 to 0.9782). There was no ceiling effect; however less than 4% floor effect was seen in two subscales. There was significant difference that existed between different X-ray grades in all subscales meaning good content validity for disease prognosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present results show that KOOS Urdu version is a reliable and valid measure for primary OA knee patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"1206706"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/1206706","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35314997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lebogang Mokotedi, Sulé Gunter, Chanel Robinson, Gavin R Norton, Angela J Woodiwiss, Linda Tsang, Patrick H Dessein, Aletta M E Millen
{"title":"The Impact of Different Classification Criteria Sets on the Estimated Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Diastolic Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis.","authors":"Lebogang Mokotedi, Sulé Gunter, Chanel Robinson, Gavin R Norton, Angela J Woodiwiss, Linda Tsang, Patrick H Dessein, Aletta M E Millen","doi":"10.1155/2017/2323410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2323410","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study compared the estimated prevalence and potential determinants of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction upon applying different classification criteria in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). LV diastolic function was assessed echocardiographically by pulsed Doppler (<i>E</i>/<i>A</i>), tissue Doppler (<i>E</i>/<i>e</i>', lateral and septal <i>e</i>'), and left atrial volume index in 176 RA patients. Relationships of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and RA characteristics with LV diastolic function and dysfunction according to previous and current criteria were determined in multivariate regression models. Waist-hip ratio was associated with <i>E</i>/<i>A</i> (standardised <i>β</i> (SE) = -0.28 ± 0.09, <i>p</i> = 0.0002) and lateral <i>e</i>' (standardised <i>β</i> (SE) = 0.26 ± 0.09, <i>p</i> = 0.01); low diastolic blood pressure was related to <i>E</i>/<i>e</i>' (standardised <i>β</i> (SE) = -0.16 ± 0.08, <i>p</i> = 0.04). Diastolic dysfunction prevalence differed upon applying previous (59%) compared to current (22%) criteria (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). One SD increase in waist-hip ratio was associated with diastolic dysfunction when applying current criteria (OR = 2.61 (95% CI = 1.51-4.52), <i>p</i> = 0.0006), whereas one SD increase in diastolic blood pressure was inversely related to diastolic dysfunction upon using previous criteria (OR = 0.57 (95% CI = 0.40-0.81), <i>p</i> = 0.002). In conclusion, application of current and previous diastolic dysfunction criteria markedly alters the prevalence and risk factors associated with diastolic dysfunction in RA.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"2323410"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/2323410","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35749671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Juan C Rueda, Sofia Arias-Correal, Andres Y Vasquez, Enrique Calvo, Paola Peña, Marlon Porras, Jose-Ignacio Angarita, Eugenia-Lucia Saldarriaga, Ana M Santos, John Londono
{"title":"Interobserver Agreement in Magnetic Resonance of the Sacroiliac Joints in Patients with Spondyloarthritis.","authors":"Juan C Rueda, Sofia Arias-Correal, Andres Y Vasquez, Enrique Calvo, Paola Peña, Marlon Porras, Jose-Ignacio Angarita, Eugenia-Lucia Saldarriaga, Ana M Santos, John Londono","doi":"10.1155/2017/3143069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3143069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Background</i>. Clinical, laboratory, and radiologic parameters are used for diagnosis and classification of spondyloarthritis (SpA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sacroiliac (SI) joints is being increasingly used to detect early sacroiliitis. We decided to evaluate the interobserver agreement in MRI findings of SI joints of SpA patients between a local radiologist, a rheumatologist, and an expert radiologist in musculoskeletal diseases. <i>Methods</i>. 66 MRI images of the SI joints of patients with established diagnosis of SpA were evaluated. Agreement was expressed in Cohen's kappa. <i>Results</i>. Interobserver agreement between a local radiologist and an expert radiologist was fair (<i>κ</i> = 0.37). Only acute findings showed a moderate agreement (<i>κ</i> = 0.45), while chronic findings revealed 76.5% of disagreement (<i>κ</i> = 0.31). A fair agreement was observed in acute findings (<i>κ</i> = 0.38) as well as chronic findings (<i>κ</i> = 0.38) between a local radiologist and a rheumatologist. There was a substantial agreement between an expert radiologist and a rheumatologist (<i>κ</i> = 0.73). In acute findings, a 100% agreement was achieved. Also chronic and acute plus chronic findings showed high levels of agreement (<i>κ</i> = 0.73 and 0.62, resp.). <i>Conclusions</i>. Our study shows that rheumatologists may have similar MRI interpretations of SI joints in SpA patients as an expert radiologist.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"3143069"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/3143069","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34805707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
William F C Rigby, Kathy Lampl, Jason M Low, Daniel E Furst
{"title":"Review of Routine Laboratory Monitoring for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving Biologic or Nonbiologic DMARDs.","authors":"William F C Rigby, Kathy Lampl, Jason M Low, Daniel E Furst","doi":"10.1155/2017/9614241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9614241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Safety concerns associated with many drugs indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be attenuated by the early identification of toxicity through routine laboratory monitoring; however, a comprehensive review of the recommended monitoring guidelines for the different available RA therapies is currently unavailable. The aim of this review is to summarize the current guidelines for laboratory monitoring in patients with RA and to provide an overview of the laboratory abnormality profiles associated with each drug indicated for RA. Recommendations for the frequency of laboratory monitoring of serum lipids, liver transaminases, serum creatinine, neutrophil counts, and platelet counts in patients with RA were compiled from a literature search for published recommendations and guidelines as well as the prescribing information for each drug. Laboratory abnormality profiles for each drug were compiled from the prescribing information for each drug and a literature search including meta-analyses and primary clinical trials data.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"9614241"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/9614241","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35238500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Evelien Bergrath, Robert A Gerber, David Gruben, Tatjana Lukic, Charles Makin, Gene Wallenstein
{"title":"Tofacitinib versus Biologic Treatments in Moderate-to-Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Who Have Had an Inadequate Response to Nonbiologic DMARDs: Systematic Literature Review and Network Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Evelien Bergrath, Robert A Gerber, David Gruben, Tatjana Lukic, Charles Makin, Gene Wallenstein","doi":"10.1155/2017/8417249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8417249","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Objective</i>. To compare the efficacy and tolerability of tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as monotherapy and combined with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) versus biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) and other novel DMARDs for second-line moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients by means of a systematic literature review (SLR) and network meta-analysis (NMA). <i>Methods</i>. MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published between 1990 and March 2015. Efficacy data based on American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria, improvements in the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) at 6 months, and discontinuation rates due to adverse events were analyzed by means of Bayesian NMAs. <i>Results</i>. 45 RCTs were identified, the majority of which demonstrated a low risk of bias. Tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (BID) and 10 mg BID monotherapy exhibited comparable efficacy and discontinuation rates due to adverse events versus other monotherapies. Tofacitinib 5 mg BID and 10 mg BID + DMARDs or methotrexate (MTX) were mostly comparable to other combination therapies in terms of efficacy and discontinuation due to adverse events. <i>Conclusion</i>. In most cases, tofacitinib had similar efficacy and discontinuation rates due to adverse events compared to biologic DMARDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"8417249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/8417249","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34887233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lynden Roberts, Kathleen Tymms, Julien de Jager, Geoffrey Littlejohn, Hedley Griffiths, Dave Nicholls, Paul Bird, Jennifer Young, Julie Hill, Jane Zochling
{"title":"The CEDAR Study: A Longitudinal Study of the Clinical Effects of Conventional DMARDs and Biologic DMARDs in Australian Rheumatology Practice.","authors":"Lynden Roberts, Kathleen Tymms, Julien de Jager, Geoffrey Littlejohn, Hedley Griffiths, Dave Nicholls, Paul Bird, Jennifer Young, Julie Hill, Jane Zochling","doi":"10.1155/2017/1201450","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1201450","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To observe the choices of conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) and biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Australian routine clinical practice, to assess treatment survival and determine the effect of cDMARDs/bDMARDs on disease activity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Routinely collected, deidentified clinical data was sourced from 20 Australian rheumatology practices. RA patients aged ≥18 years, who had received cDMARDs/bDMARDs and a recorded subsequent visit, were included. A linear mixed model was used to determine the change over time and the percentage reduction in disease activity was summarized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>12,526 RA patients were included: 72% females, mean age 62 years. cDMARDs and bDMARDs were used in 92% and 30% of patients, respectively. The most commonly prescribed cDMARD was methotrexate (76% patients); median time to stopping treatment was 337 months [95% CI: 279-ND]. Etanercept was the most commonly prescribed bDMARD (12% patients); median time to stopping treatment was 79 months [95% CI: 57-93]. Of 5,341 patients with a first change in medication (cDMARD or bDMARD), 87% had therapy escalation and 13% deescalation. Reduction in DAS28-ESR, 6-month post-DMARDs initiation ranged from 3%, adalimumab, to 14%, leflunomide and tocilizumab.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this large Australian cohort of unselected community RA patients, the choices of cDMARDs/bDMARDs are aligned with current international guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"1201450"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/1201450","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35103949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Incidence and Risk Factors for Infections Requiring Hospitalization, Including Pneumocystis Pneumonia, in Japanese Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.","authors":"Atsushi Hashimoto, Shiori Suto, Kouichiro Horie, Hidefumi Fukuda, Shinichi Nogi, Kanako Iwata, Hirotaka Tsuno, Hideki Ogihara, Misato Kawakami, Akiko Komiya, Hiroshi Furukawa, Toshihiro Matsui, Shigeto Tohma","doi":"10.1155/2017/6730812","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6730812","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be complicated by different infections, but risk factors for these are not fully elucidated. Here, we assessed the incidence of and risk factors for infections requiring hospitalization (IRH) including pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in patients with RA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively surveyed all RA patients treated at our hospital from 2009 to 2013, for whom data were available on demographic features, medications, comorbidities, and severity of RA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for factors associated with the occurrence of IRH.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In a total of 9210 patient-years (2688 patients), there were 373 IRH (3.7/100 patient-years). Respiratory tract infections were most frequent (<i>n</i> = 154, and additionally 16 PCP), followed by urinary tract infections (<i>n</i> = 50). Significant factors for PCP included higher age (≥70 years; OR 3.5), male sex (6.6), underlying lung disease (3.0), use of corticosteroids (4.8), and use of biologics (5.4). Use of methotrexate (5.7) was positively associated with PCP but negatively with total infections (0.7). Additionally, functional disorders and higher RA disease activity were also related to total infections.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Risk factors for infection should be taken into account when deciding treatment for the individual RA patient.</p>","PeriodicalId":51715,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Rheumatology","volume":"2017 ","pages":"6730812"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1155/2017/6730812","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35290132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}