Association Between Life Events and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a Population‐Based Case–Control Study. Issue 6 (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wesley, Annmarie; Bengtsson, Camilla; Skillgate, Eva; Saevarsdottir, Saedis; Theorell, Töres; Holmqvist, Marie; Klareskog, Lars; Alfredsson, Lars; Wedrén, Sara; for the EIRA Study Group
• Is Part Of: Arthritis care & research. Volume 66:Issue 6(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 844
• Page End: 851
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: Arthritis -- Periodicals; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.72
• DOI: 10.1002/acr.22230
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2151-464X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acr22230-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To investigate the association between life events and the risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with and without antibodies to citrullinated protein (ACPAs).</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22230-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We used data from a population‐based case–control study of individuals ages 18–70 years living in geographically defined parts of Sweden between May 1996 and November 2009. We included incident cases (n = 2, 774) diagnosed by rheumatologists according to the American College of Rheumatology 1987 criteria for RA and randomly selected controls (n = 3, 911) matched to the cases by age, sex, and area of residence. All of the participants answered a questionnaire consisting of questions about 15 life events. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) from unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for matching variables and confounding factors.</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22230-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Having experienced a life event was weakly associated with ACPA‐positive RA as well as ACPA‐negative RA (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.2 and OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.4, respectively). The association with ACPA‐negative RA was stronger with an increasing number of events (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.7 for having experienced ≥3 events versus none). Several particular life events were associated with RA (e.g., "conflict at work, " "change of residence, " "change of work place, " and "increased responsibility at work"). The results were more consistent in women than in men.</p> </sec> <sec id="acr22230-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Our study lends support to the concept that certain stressful conditions, here measured as life events, are associated with an increased risk of developing RA.</p> </sec> </abstract>