RESEARCH - The association of RA and its treatment with sinus disease

December 11, 2006

J Rheumatol. 2006 Dec;33(12):2412-5.

The association of rheumatoid arthritis and its treatment with sinus

disease.

Michaud K, Wolfe F.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if rates of sinus disease are increased in patients

with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and whether RA treatment alters the risk of

sinus disease. METHODS: As part of a longitudinal study of rheumatic disease

outcomes, 7,243 patients with RA, 1,667 with osteoarthritis (OA), and 447

with fibromyalgia (FM) were evaluated for important sinus problems in 2003.

We defined an important sinus problem as one that required a physician

visit. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of sinus disorders among all

patients was 42.9%. During the previous 6 months 22.3% of patients with RA,

23.9% with OA, and 25.1% with FM visited a physician for a sinus problem and

22.4%, 23.9%, and 25.1% , respectively, received a prescription medication

for a sinus problem. After adjustment for age and sex, the rate of physician

visits for a sinus problem was significantly lower for patients with RA

(22.1%) compared to patients with OA (24.8%). The strongest predictor of

sinus problems among all patients was a history of allergy or asthma. Sinus

problems were more common among users of etanercept: odds ratio (OR) 1.2;

95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-1.4 univariably, and OR 1.2; 95% CI:

1.0-1.4 multivariably. Sulfasalazine (OR 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.9) and

leflunomide (OR 0.8; 95% CI: 0.7-1.0) had a protective effect on sinus

problems.

CONCLUSIONS: Sinus problems are decreased in patients with RA compared to OA

and FM. Slight protective effects on sinus problems are noted with

sulfasalazine and leflunomide, and a slight increase in risk of sinus

problems is noted with etanercept.

PMID: 17143978

7143978

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

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