Risk for Mycobacterial Disease among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Taiwan, 2001–2011

• Main Authors: Tsai-Ling Liao, Ching-Heng Lin, Gwan-Han Shen, Chia-Li Chang, Chin-Fu Lin, Der-Yuan Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015-08-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: tuberculosis; nontuberculous mycobacterial disease; risk factor; rheumatoid arthritis; death hazard; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/8/14-1846_article

Increasing evidence indicates that the risk of acquiring tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacterial disease is elevated among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To determine the epidemiology of mycobacterial diseases among RA patients in Asia, we conducted a retrospective cohort study. We used a nationwide database to investigate the association of RA with mycobacterial diseases. The risk for development of TB or nontuberculous mycobacterial disease was 2.28-fold and 6.24-fold higher among RA patients than among the general population, respectively. Among RA patients, risk for development of mycobacterial disease was higher among those who were older, male, or both. Furthermore, among RA patients with mycobacterial infections, the risk for death was increased. Therefore, RA patients, especially those with other risk factors, should be closely monitored for development of mycobacterial disease.