Smoking And Rheumatoid Arthritis - Evidence Of Harm Accumulates

The role of smoking as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis was supported by several studies reported at the ACR.

Japanese researchers who undertook a meta-analysis of sixteen studies concluded that the strongest association between smoking history and RA occurred for Rheumatoid Factor positive men (odds ratio 2.85) (Abstract# 749).

Swedish researchers found that current smokers had a higher risk of severe extra-articular manifestations of RA than non-smokers (odds ratio 2.67).

They speculate that smoking may have an impact on disease mechanisms in RA, including those leading to extra-articular disease.


American College of Rheumatology Annual Congress (ACR)


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