Bacterial pathogens, such as those involved in sinusitis, may play a role in rheumatic diseases
Those who suffer from sinusitis, the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses which can have various causes, may be at greater risk of developing rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. This unusual connection, never verified before, was revealed by a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, a non-profit organization that has over 70 hospitals in the United States between Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
The study, published in the journal Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases Open, is the result of an accurate analysis conducted on the medical records of over 500 thousand people living in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Analyzing data collected by the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) between 1966 and 2014, the research conducted by Cynthia S. Crowson and Vanessa L Kronzer identified 1,729 adult patients with an average age of 64 years who had been diagnosed with rheumatic disease systemic autoimmune.
Sinusitis and rheumatic diseases: What emerged from the research
Taking into account factors such as the age and gender of the patients, body weight, their origin, and ethnicity, the team of researchers was able to notice an increased risk of rheumatic diseases in those affected by sinusitis. According to data published in the scientific journal, sinusitis could lead to a 40% higher risk of developing a rheumatic problem, a percentage that would be even higher for systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
The average time elapsed between an episode of sinusitis and the diagnosis of rheumatic disease was approximately 7.5 years, and rheumatoid arthritis was found to be the most common pathology. The research also made it possible to highlight how the association between sinusitis and rheumatic disease would be higher in non-smoking people.
Further investigations are needed
It is necessary to underline, however, that given the observational nature of the research – the medical records were analyzed and there was no interaction with the patients involved – it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions on the causal factors. This is undoubtedly a novelty that deserves to be explored with further studies, as confirmed by the Mayo Clinic research team: “Bacterial pathogens, such as those involved in sinusitis, could play a role in rheumatic diseases, furthermore sinusitis is associated with an acceleration of hardening of the arteries, giving further weight to its potential inflammatory effects.”
Overall, says Cynthia S. Crowson, “these findings indicate a role for sinus inflammation in the presentation, and perhaps pathogenesis, of rheumatic disease. We hope to soon answer the remaining unanswered questions.”
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