Smoking and Age Linked to Development of Inflammatory Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

Feb 15, 2016 2:32 am

A prospective cohort of RA first-degree relatives were prospectively studied for genetic and environmental factors (smoking, body mass index, education, and parity) and RA-related autoantibodies that may influence future development of inflammatory joint symptoms over a 2 year follow-up period.

Sparks et al analyzed 966 first-degree relatives at baseline and 262 at two-year follow-up. Their mean age was 47.2 years; 71% were female, and 55% were shared epitope-positive. Prediction of future IJS included smoking >10 pack-years OR 2.66 at 2 years) and age. Thus, those at highest risk of inflammatory joint symptoms (OR 4.39) were first-degree relatives aged <50 years with >10 pack-year history of smoking.

Having a genetic risk factor or RA-related autoantibody did not influence the risk of future inflammatory joint symptoms.

Associations of smoking and age with inflammatory joint signs among first-degree relatives without rheumatoid arthritis: Results