Using lifestyle factors to identify individuals at higher risk of inflammatory polyarthritis (results from the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer-Norfolk and the Norfolk Arthritis Register—the EPIC-2-NOAR Study). Issue 1 (16th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lahiri, Manjari; Luben, Robert N; Morgan, Catharine; Bunn, Diane K; Marshall, Tarnya; Lunt, Mark; Verstappen, Suzanne M M; Symmons, Deborah P M; Khaw, Kay-Tee; Wareham, Nick; Bruce, Ian N
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 73:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2013-03-16
• Subjects: Rheumatoid Arthritis -- Epidemiology -- Smoking; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-202481
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To investigate the association of lifestyle factors with risk of inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: The European Prospective Investigation of Cancer, Norfolk, UK (EPIC-Norfolk) gathered lifestyle data from participants aged 40–79 years from 1993 to 1997. Individuals who subsequently developed IP were identified by linkage with the Norfolk Arthritis Register. A Cox proportional hazard model was developed, and a score assigned to each risk factor to calculate the odds of developing IP. Results: 25 455 EPIC participants were followed for a median (IQR) of 14.2 (12.9, 15.3) years; 184 developed incident IP (138 cumulatively fulfilled criteria for RA; 107 were seropositive). Pack-years of smoking were associated with increased risk of IP and RA in men (HR 1.21 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.37) per 10-pack-years) and seropositive IP (HR 1.24 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.41)) for all. Diabetes mellitus was associated with increased risk of IP (HR 2.54 (95% CI 1.26 to 5.09)), while alcohol (HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.99) per unit/day) and higher social class (HR 0.36 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.89) for professionals vs manual workers) were associated with reduced risk. Body mass index was associated with seronegative IP (HR 2.75 (95% CI 1.39 to 5.46) for obese vs normal-weight participants). In women, parity (HR 2.81 (95% CI 1.37 to 5.76) for ≥2 vs no children) was associated with increased risk, and breast feeding (HR 0.66 (95% CI 0.46 to 0.94) for every 52 weeks of breast feeding) was inversely associated with risk. Risk factors from the model were used to generate a 'risk score'. A total of 1159 (8.4%) women had scores reflecting a >3-fold increased risk of IP over those with a score of 0. Conclusions: Several easily ascertained clinical and lifestyle factors can be used to stratify populations for risk of IP.