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Inflammatory Joint Signs in RA First-Degree Relatives
Studying associations with smoking and age
In a high-risk cohort of first-degree relatives (FDRs), smoking and age were associated with both prevalent and incident inflammatory joint signs (IJS) at sites typical for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This according to a study of RA risk factors and IJS in a prospective cohort of 966 non-Hispanic white FDRs at baseline and 262 at 2-year follow-up after excluding those with IJS at baseline. Researchers found:
- Mean age was 47.2 years, 71% were female, and 55% were shared epitope-positive.
- Smoking > 10 pack-years was associated with IJS at baseline (OR=1.59) and at 2 years (OR=2.66) vs never smokers.
- Smoking and age significantly interacted for risk of IJS.
- FDRs aged <50 years with > 10 pack-years had the highest risk of IJS (OR=4.39) vs never smokers aged < 50 years.
Citation: Sparks JA, Chang S-C, Deane KD, et al. Associations of smoking and age with inflammatory joint signs among first-degree relatives without rheumatoid arthritis: Results from the Studies of the Etiology of RA. [Published online ahead of print February 11, 2016]. Arthr Rheumatol. doi: 10.1002/art.39630.