PEFR and FEF_25-75 in Rheumatoid Arthritic Female and their Relationships with Duration of the Disease

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive multisystemic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology affecting approximately 1% of the population. Pulmonary involvement is a frequent extraarticular manifestation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To observe PEFR, FEF_25-75 in female patients of RA in order to find out their relationships with duration of the disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, BSMMU, Dhaka, between January and December 2009 on 90 RA female patients of 30-50 years age (Group B). For comparison, 30 age and BMI matched apparently healthy subjects (Group A) were also studied. According to the duration of disease, RA patients were subdivided into B₁ (newly diagnosed), B₂ (3-5 years) and B₃ (6- 10 years). They were selected from the Out Patient Department of Physical Medicine of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. PEFR, FEF_25-75 of all the subjects were measured by a digital MicroDL spirometer. Results were expressed as percentage of predicted value. For statistical analysis One-Way ANOVA, Unpaired Student's 't' test and Pearson's correlation coefficient test were performed.

Results: The mean percentage of predicted values of these lung function parameters in the healthy female subjects and newly diagnosed (B₁) RA patients were within normal ranges. The mean percentage of predicted values of both the spirometric variables were significantly lower in B₃ compared to those in B₂ (PEFR p<0.001, FEF_25-75 p<0.001), B₁ (PEFR p<0.05, FEF_25-75 p<0.02) and A (PEFR p<0.05, FEF_25-75 p<0.01). Again the same parameters were significantly lower in B₂ in comparison to those of B₁ (PEFR p<0.001, FEF_25-75 p<0.05) and A (PEFR p<0.001, FEF_25-75 p<0.05). In addition both the ventilatory variables had significant (p<0.001) negative correlation with durations of disease.

Conclusion: This study reveals that pulmonary functions may be lower in patients with RA and their lung function is inversely related to the duration of disease.

Key Words: PEFR; FEF_25-75; Rheumatoid Arthritis

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbsp.v6i1.8086

J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2011 June; 6(1): 58-63