Smoking, Education RA Risk Factors

A Swedish team of researchers identified smoking, a low formal level of education and certain metabolic indicators as rheumatoid arthritis risk factors.

The first study showed that smoking and a low level of formal education — such as elementary school education compared to those with a college degree — may independently increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

The second study similarly highlights the link between of smoking and rheumatoid arthritis but, contrary to previously noted relationships between rheumatoid arthritis and impaired glucose tolerance, better glucose tolerance was found as a predictor of rheumatoid arthritis.

A lower glucose level at 120 minutes after an oral glucose tolerance test and smoking were both found to be independent predictors of rheumatoid arthritis.

Lead investigator on both studies, Dr. Ulf Bergstrom, of Sweden’s Malmo University Hospital, suggested that factors such as diet and genetics influencing metabolism may play an important part in rheumatoid arthritis development.

The studies were presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain.