Table 1 Patient characteristics according to the presence of any pulmonary function abnormalities

Age (years)

61 ± 7.7

63 ± 9.9

0.14

Male gender

41 (36)

21 (47)

0.21

Caucasian

99 (87)

37 (82)

0.46

Body mass index (kg/m²)

29 ± 5.0

28 ± 5.5

0.12

Ever smoker

63 (55)

29 (64)

0.29

Current smoker

9 (7.9)

10 (22)

0.012

Reported lung disease

13 (11)

17 (38)

< 0.001

   Emphysema

2 (1.8)

8 (18)

< 0.001

   Asthma

12 (11)

8 (18)

0.22

   Rheumatoid lung disease

0 (0)

2 (4.7)

0.07

CAC > 100

34 (30)

19 (42)

0.14

RA characteristics

   RA duration (years)

9.9 (5.6 to 18)

11 (7.1 to 23)

0.16

   RF seropositive

64 (56)

35 (78)

0.011

   Anti-CCP seropositive

67 (59)

37 (84)

0.003

   DAS28 (units)

3.1 (2.4 to 3.7)

3.1 (2.4 to 4.2)

0.74

   HAQ (units)

0.75 (0.13 to 1.5)

0.88 (0.13 to 1.5)

0.48

   Modified Sharp Score (units)

41 (12 to 99)

56 (25 to 140)

0.098

   Current prednisone

35 (31)

23 (51)

0.018

   Current nonbiologic DMARDs

99 (88)

38 (84)

0.60

   Current biologic DMARDs

55 (49)

20 (44)

0.63

Reported pulmonary symptoms

   Any reported symptoms

41 (36)

26 (58)

0.012

   Any cough

19 (17)

16 (36)

0.010

   Any phlegm

22 (19)

16 (36)

0.030

   Any wheezing

17 (15)

18 (42)

0.001

   Any breathlessness

18 (16)

15 (33)

0.014