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Occupations related to noxious airborne agents may increase RA risk
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Occupations related to noxious airborne agents, which included bricklayers, concrete workers, material handling operators, electrical workers, electronics workers, nurses and attendants, had an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study.
“This study found associations between four occupational groups and onset of ACPA+ RA or ACPA– RA when adjusting for important environmental and lifestyle factors,” the researchers wrote.
Investigators administered a questionnaire and took blood samples for 3,522 patients with RA and 5,580 controls from a Swedish population cohort. In total, 76 occupational groups were assessed. For men, there was an increased risk for anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)+ RA among bricklayers and concrete workers (OR = 2.9), material handling operators (OR = 2.4), electrical and electronics workers (OR = 2.6); in addition, there was an increased risk among ACPA– RA for bricklayers and concrete workers (OR = 2.4) and electrical and electronics workers (OR = 2.6). For women, there was an increased risk for ACPA+ RA among assistant nurses and attendants (OR = 1.3); however, there was no increased risk for ACPA– RA among any group.
“Our findings warrant an appreciation of occupational status in diagnostics and in estimations of risk for RA in clinical practice, as well as further efforts to understand how environment can trigger RA in order to enable future prevention of this disease,” the researchers wrote. – by Will Offit
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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