Associations of Fire Smoke and Other Pollutants With Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Authors' conclusion
Increased fire smoke PM2.5 was associated with RA-ILD, whereas NOx, ozone, and PM10 were associated with RA risk.
Study context
- Population
- Veterans Affairs data, October 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018: patients with incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) and matched controls
- Participants
- 9,701 / 531 / 68,852
- Comparison
- Exposure to fire smoke PM2.5 and other pollutants in patients with incident RA and RA-ILD vs matched controls
- RAn = 9,701
- RA-ILDn = 531
- Controlsn = 68,852reference
- Outcome
- Incident RA and RA-ILD (association with fire smoke PM2.5 and other pollutants, measured at least one year before index date)
Methodological detailsmatched (≤10 controls) on age, sex and Veterans Affairs (VA) enrollment year, conditional logistic regression
- Matched (≤10 controls) on age, sex and VA enrollment year
- Conditional logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Fire smoke PM2.5 (per 1 μg/m³)
Each group vs controlsAdjusted odds ratio (95% CI)
RAnot associated
1.07(0.92–1.23)
RA-ILDper 1 μg/m³
1.98(1.08–3.62)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aOR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| NOx, highestvs lowest quartile | 1.16 (1.06–1.27) | |
| Ozone, highest quartile, seronegative RA (subgroup)RAvs ControlsSeronegative RA | 1.19 (1.06–1.34) | |
| PM10, highest quartile, seronegative RA (subgroup)RAvs ControlsSeronegative RA | 1.25 (1.10–1.43) | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Carbon monoxide, overall PM2.5 and SO2
- Not, or negatively, associated with RA and RA-ILD
Original publication
Associations of Fire Smoke and Other Pollutants With Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis–Associated Interstitial Lung Disease. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published 3 February 2025. doi:10.
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