Background Clinically evident interstitial lung disease (ILD) affects between 10 and 42% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Airway involvement seems to be even more common. Most of the available evidence comes from studies performed in established RA patients. The aim of our study was to know the prevalence of non-diagnosed lung disease (airway and interstitial involvement) in patients with early RA and look for associated factors. Methods We designed an observational, multicenter, cross-sectional study, and included patients with RA of less than two years since diagnosis. We performed a structured questionnaire, HRCT and lung functional tests looking for lung disease, together with joint disease evaluation. We analyzed which variables were associated with the presence of lung disease on HRCT. Results We included 83 patients, 83% females. The median (IQR) of time since RA diagnosis was 3 (1–6) months. In the HRCT, 57 patients had airway compromisea (72%), and 6 had interstitial abnormalities (7.5%). The most common altertion found in lung functional tests was a reduced DLCO (14%). The presence of at least one abnormality in the physical exam was associated with lung involvement on HRCT [13 (21.6%) vs 0 (0%); p = 0.026]. Also, patients with lung involvement presented significantly lower values of FVC% and DLCO%, and higher values of RV/TLC. No variable related to joint involvement was found associated with alterations in HRCT. Conclusion Our study shows that a large proportion of early RA patients has abnormal findings in HRCT. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Argentinean patients and its association with sociodemographic and clinical factors.

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El autocuestionario QOL-RA es una herramienta diseñada para valorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes con Artritis Reumatoidea (AR). No requiere licencia para su uso. Objetivo: validar el cuestionario QOL-RA en una cohorte de pacientes con AR en Argentina.

Depression is one of the most frequent comorbidity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). It´s presence is associated with higher healthcare costs, mortality rate and reduced odds of achieving a good treatment response. Objective: to determine the prevalence of depression in Argentinean patients with RA and to establish its relationship with different sociodemographic and clinical factors. Material and methods: consecutive patients ≥18 years old, with a diagnosis of RA according to ACR-EULAR 2010 criteria were included. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, RA characteristics, disease activity and current treatment were registered. Questionnaires were administered: EQ-5D-3L, QOL-RA, HAQ-A and PHQ-9. PHQ-9 scores of 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, ≥20 represent mild, moderate, moderate/severe and severe depression, respectively and a cut-off value ≥10, major depression. Statistical analysis: Student´s T, ANOVA and Chi2 tests. Multiple logistic regression.