Decline of Pulmonary Function Is Associated With the Presence of Rheumatoid Factor in Korean Health Screening Subjects Without Clinically Apparent Lung Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 95; no. 19; p. e3668
• Main Authors: Hwang, Jiwon, Song, Jae-Uk, Ahn, Joong Kyong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01.05.2016; Wolters Kluwer Health
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Lung - physiopathology; Lung Diseases - blood; Lung Diseases - diagnosis; Lung Diseases - etiology; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Observational Study; Predictive Value of Tests; Respiratory Function Tests; Rheumatoid Factor - blood; Risk Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Smoking - blood; Vital Capacity; Young Adult

Although higher-than-normal levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) are often observed in subjects without specific medical problems, little is known about the influence of RF on pulmonary function in health screening subjects. This study aimed to determine the association between the presence of RF and de...