RESEARCH - Occupations and exposures in the work environment as determinants for RA

June 29, 2008

Occup Environ Med. 2004 Mar;61(3):233-8.

Occupations and exposures in the work environment as determinants for

rheumatoid arthritis.

Olsson AR, Skogh T, Axelson O, Wingren G.

Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of

Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping

University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several occupational categories have been

associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); this study was conducted to

further evaluate these associations. METHODS: Lifelong occupational

history together with exposure experiences were collected through a

postal questionnaire answered by 293 incident cases and 1346

population based referents. Occupational determinants were evaluated

through stratified and multivariate analyses; pooled analyses with

previously gathered data on 422 prevalent cases and 858 referents were

also performed. RESULTS: In both materials, significantly increased

logistic odds ratios (LORs) were seen for male conductors, freight and

transport workers (LOR 17.8, 95% CI 1.5 to 207.8 and LOR 4.7, 95% CI

1.4 to 16.3, respectively), and farmers and farm workers (LOR 2.4, 95%

CI 1.1 to 5.2, and LOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.5, respectively). Among

women, increased LORs were seen in the separate and the pooled

material for printmakers and process engravers (LOR 5.5, 95% CI 0.9 to

32.6, and LOR 3.0, 95% CI 0.9 to 10.3, respectively). Increased risks

were seen in both materials for men exposed to asbestos (LOR 2.5, 95%

CI 1.0 to 6.8, and LOR 1.6, 95% CI 0.8 to 3.3, respectively), and

vibrations (LOR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9 to 4.4, and LOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3 to

3.8, respectively). The risk for RA increased with increasing duration

of exposure to vibrations and mineral dust, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: There was evidence of a causal relation between exposures

to vibrations and mineral dust and development of RA among men.

Occupational factors seem to be aetiologically more important for men,

and most occupations at risk involve multiple exposures. Several

exposures associated with an increased risk for RA are frequent among

farmers, and some of the occupations at risk include exposure to

organic dust.

PMID: 14985518

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Not an MD

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