ArticleRespiratory research2026
Genetic and epidemiological evidence linking respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases: shared risk factors and intervention windows.
Article in Respiratory research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
20 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWe previously identified genetic correlation between pairs of musculoskeletal (MSK) and respiratory conditions. Strategies to prevent or delay their onset remain underexplored in the context of multimorbidity. This study investigated whether MSK-respiratory disease pairs show evidence of potential causal relationships, identified modifiable risk factors, and quantified intervention windows to prevent progression to multimorbidity.
methodsWe examined combinations of one respiratory condition (asthma, COPD) and one MSK condition [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), psoriasis]. Two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) evaluated potential causal relationships in both directions. Linked electronic health records from CPRD (N = 11,042,985; age ≥ 40 years) were used to assess longitudinal disease trajectories, prognostic consequences, and mediation by potentially modifiable or treatable factors.
resultsWe found evidence for bidirectional relationships between COPD and RA/OA (ORs 1.10-1.19) and between asthma and RA/OA (ORs 1.03-1.14). COPD genetic liability also increased PMR risk (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.25). Psoriasis liability increased risk of COPD (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.07) and asthma (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.08). Across disease pairs, the median interval between first and second diagnoses was 5-13 years, indicating a substantial window for intervention. Obesity, smoking, hypertension, and thyroid conditions were risk factors common across all studied conditions. Mediation analyses suggested reduced physical activity and lipid changes partially contributed to the onset of respiratory disease following MSK conditions. Colocalisation identified genetic variants causal for specific condition pairs (implicating genes IFIH1, APOE, and CXCR5), highlighting inflammatory and lipid pathways.
conclusionsMSK and respiratory conditions commonly develop sequentially over many years. Targeted strategies promoting physical function, optimising lipid and cardiovascular risk management may help delay or prevent multimorbidity progression.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.