RESEARCH - Socioeconomic and occupational risk factors for RA

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J Rheumatol. 2008 May 1.

Socioeconomic and Occupational Risk Factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis:

A Nationwide Study Based on Hospitalizations in Sweden.

Li X, Sundquist J, Sundquist K.

From the Center for Family and Community Medicine, Karolinska

Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible associations between socioeconomic

status, occupation, and hospitalization for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS: A nationwide database was constructed by linking the Swedish

Census to the Hospital Discharge Register in order to obtain data on

all first hospitalizations for RA in Sweden during the study period

1964 to 2004. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and 95% confidence

intervals were calculated by socioeconomic status (education level)

and occupation for men and women aged 30 years and older. Three

cohorts were defined based on occupational titles recorded in Swedish

census data in 1960, 1970, and 1980. RESULTS: A total of 13,820 male

and 14,509 female hospitalizations for RA were identified during the

study period. Men and women with an education level > 12 years had

significantly decreased SIR. Among men, significantly increased SIR

were present in all 3 cohorts among farmers, miners and quarry

workers, electrical workers, other construction workers, and engine

and motor operators. Among women, assistant nurses and religious,

juridical, and other social-science-related workers had significantly

increased SIR in all 3 cohorts.

CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic status and occupation sometimes carry a

significantly increased risk of hospitalization for RA. Future studies

could investigate specific agents in the occupations for which

increased risks are identified.

PMID: 18464310

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18464310

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