RESEARCH - Systemic autoimmune disease mortality and occupational exposures

[Guest guest]

Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Oct;56(10):3189-201.

Systemic autoimmune disease mortality and occupational exposures.

Gold LS, Ward MH, Dosemeci M, De Roos AJ.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To generate hypotheses regarding occupational exposures

that may cause systemic autoimmune diseases. METHODS: Based on

examination of US death certificates, we identified deaths in 26

states for which a cause was listed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n =

36,178), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n = 7,241), systemic

sclerosis (n = 5,642), or other systemic autoimmune disease (n =

4,270). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were

calculated to estimate associations between occupation and death from

any systemic autoimmune disease, and from RA, SLE, and systemic

sclerosis, specifically. Additionally, we estimated risks associated

with occupational exposures, which were assigned using job-exposure

matrices. RESULTS: A broad array of occupations was associated with

death from systemic autoimmune diseases, including several of a priori

interest. Farming occupation was associated with death from any

systemic autoimmune disease (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.2-1.4]), and increased

risk was also seen with occupational exposure to animals and

pesticides. Several industrial occupations were associated with death

from any systemic autoimmune disease, including mining machine

operators (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.1-1.5]), miscellaneous textile machine

operators (OR 1.2 [95% CI 1.0-1.4]), and hand painting, coating, and

decorating occupations (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.0-2.9]). These occupations

were also significantly associated with death from the specific

autoimmune diseases examined. Certain occupations entailing exposure

to the public, such as teachers, were associated with systemic

autoimmune disease-related death, whereas others, such as waiters and

waitresses, were not.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that death from systemic autoimmune

diseases may be associated with occupational exposures encountered in

farming and industry. The hypotheses generated in this study provide

leads for future research on determinants of these diseases.

PMID: 17907164

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17907164

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Not an MD