Table 2 Baseline parameters and disease outcome at Year 5.

From: Predictors of long-term prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease

Baseline parameters

Outcome at Year 5

Progression

No-progression

(Worse)

(Unchanged/Stable + Improved)

(n = 19)

(n = 41)

Demographic parameters

ILA score, no

  

ILA score 0

3

19

ILA score 1

9

15

ILA score 2

5

7

ILA score 3

2

0

Age, years, mean ± SD

61.1 ± 16.0**

45.1 ± 16.1

Female, no. (%)

13 (68)

35 (85)

Pack-years of smoking, mean ± SD

3.7 ± 9.0

1.6 ± 7.3

Pack-years of secondhand smoking, mean ± SD

2.1 ± 9.2

1.8 ± 5.2

RA parameters, median (IQR)

RF, IU/ml

195.0 (122.5–563)*

105.0 (27.4–300.0)

Anti-CCP, units/ml

255.0 (81.1–448.1)

274.8 (61.1–500.0)

DAS28

4.2 (3.3–5)

4.1 (3–5.2)

Duration of RA, years

3.0 (1.0–10.0)

2.0 (1.0–9.0)

Cumulative dosages of medications used over 5-year (mg), median (IQR)§

Methotrexate

260.0 (51.2–390.0)*

325.0 (260.0–390.0)

Leflunomide

1825 (1825.0 – 3650.0)

1825 (1825.0–1825.0)

Corticosteroid

157.5 (13.1–681.2

912.5 (453.1–912.5)

Respiratory parameters, no. (%)

Cough

4 (21)*

0 (0)

Dyspnea

4 (21)*

0 (0)

Spirometric parameters, median (IQR)

FEV1, percent of predicted

79.0 (65.2–89.2)

82.0 (76.2–93.0)

FVC, percent of predicted

75.5 (62.0–84.0)

79.0 (75.5–92.5)

DLco, percent of predicted

58.0 (52.5–70.5)**

86.0 (69–101.8)

HRCT abnormalities, no. (%)

UIP pattern

3 (16)*

0 (0)

Non-UIP pattern

16 (84)

41 (100)

Quantitative Modified ILD scoring in HRCT, median (IQR)

 

2.0 (1.0–10.0)*

1.5 (0.0–3.0)

  1. RA-ILD outcomes at Year 5 were defined as progression versus no-progression based on changes of the Quantitative Modified ILD HRCT scores from Year 0 to Year 5. Unchanged/stable (≤ 10% change) and improved (≥ 10% decrease) in the Quantitative Modified ILD scores were designated as no-progression, while worsening scores (> 10% increase in Quantitative Modified ILD scores) were classified as progression. Among the 56 patients who were alive at Year 5, 39 had available PFT data from both Year 0 and Year 5 time points. Baseline age, RF, cough, dyspnea, DLco% and non-UIP HRCT pattern in the progression group were significantly different compared to the no-progression group (p < 0.01, 0.05, 0.05, 0.01, 0.05, 0.05, respectively). The cumulative dosage of methotrexate (mg) used over 5-years in the progression group was significantly lower than in the no-progression group (p = 0.027).
  2. §The percentages of patients using methotrexate, leflunomide and corticosteroid in the progression group were 100%, 42%, and 21%, respectively. The percentages of patients using methotrexate, leflunomide and corticosteroid in the no-progression group were 100%, 53% and 15%, respectively. Median (IQR) values for cumulative medication dose were assessed across entire subgroups (progressors vs. non-progressors), but only encompassed those individuals who used the specified medication during the 5 year study period.
  3. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, progression group versus non-progression group respectively. p-values were derived from two samples t-test/Mann–Whitney U test (continuous variables) and Chi-square /Fisher’s exact test (categorical variables).
Back to article page