A new study has found that people who suffer from both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and arthritis are more likely to die earlier than those who have arthritis alone.
The research, published in the January 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, looked at health data from over 11,000 adults in the United States.
COPD is a long-term disease that makes it hard to breathe. It includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. People with COPD often struggle with coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
It is usually caused by smoking, but can also be the result of long-term exposure to air pollution, dust, or harmful chemicals. In some cases, it runs in families. COPD affects over 30 million people in the U.S. and is one of the top causes of death around the world.
Arthritis is another common long-term condition. It causes swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints. There are many types of arthritis, but the most common ones include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
It can make everyday activities—like walking, climbing stairs, or even using your hands—difficult and painful. In the U.S., arthritis is one of the main reasons why adults become disabled.
In this study, researchers looked at people who reported having arthritis and checked whether they also had COPD. They used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which collects information from people across the U.S. The data covered the years 1999 to 2018. Out of more than 11,000 people who said they had arthritis, about 1,800 also had COPD.
The researchers then followed the participants over a period of almost nine years to see how many of them died and what the causes of death were. They found that people with both COPD and arthritis were more likely to die—especially from heart-related problems—than those who had arthritis alone.
Dr. Chengfeng Fu, a lung specialist from Chongqing, China, led the study. He said, “Our study demonstrated an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in people who had COPD and arthritis when compared to people who had arthritis but did not have COPD.”
In simpler terms, this means that having both diseases made it more likely that someone would die, especially from heart disease.
The reason behind this link may be that both COPD and arthritis involve long-term inflammation in the body.
Inflammation is the body’s way of reacting to injury or harmful substances, but when it goes on for too long, it can damage organs and increase the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease. Lifestyle factors, like smoking and lack of exercise, may also play a role.
Dr. Fu said that the results of the study show how important it is to screen people with arthritis for COPD. Many people with early-stage COPD do not know they have it because the symptoms can be mild at first. But early diagnosis means people can start treatment sooner. This might include quitting smoking, taking medicine, doing breathing exercises, and staying active.
By catching COPD earlier, doctors could help people with both conditions manage their health better and possibly live longer, healthier lives.
Review and Analysis
This study highlights a key health concern for people living with arthritis. It shows that if a person also has COPD, their risk of dying—especially from heart disease—is higher. The findings suggest that arthritis patients should be carefully checked for signs of lung problems, even if they don’t smoke or have breathing difficulties.
A major strength of this study is its large sample size and long follow-up period. The use of a national U.S. health database adds credibility and makes the results more widely applicable. However, one limitation is that the data relied on people reporting their own conditions, which might not be as accurate as official medical diagnoses.
Even so, the results support what scientists already suspect—that long-term inflammation plays a big role in many serious illnesses. It also suggests that treating one health problem without paying attention to others may not be enough. A whole-body approach to managing chronic illnesses like arthritis and COPD could help save lives.
In short, the study offers a strong reason for doctors and patients to be more aware of how arthritis and COPD can interact—and the importance of early detection and care.
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The research findings can be found in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation.
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