Key clinical point: Veterans who developed rheumatoid arthritis and reported a history of exposure to burn pits and military waste disposal were more likely to show anti-CCP positivity than were those not exposed, but no association appeared between agricultural or occupational exposures and RA autoantibodies or RA severity.

Major finding: In a multivariate analysis, exposure to military burn pits and military waste disposal were each associated with significantly higher odds of anti-CCP positivity, compared to those not exposed (odds ratios of 1.66 and 1.74, respectively); when combined with the presence of shared epitope (SE) alleles, the risk ratios for anti-CCP positivity increased to 5.69 and 5.05, respectively.

Study details: The data come from a nested, cross-sectional study based on survey responses from 797 veterans with RA identified through the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis registry; participants reported exposures to inhalants in occupational, agriculture, and military settings.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Central States-Center for Agricultural Safety and Health. One author disclosed serving on the speakers’ bureau for Regeneron.