Early-life animal and farming exposures and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: findings from the E3N French cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Our results suggest a potential inverse association restricted to pet exposure at ages 1-2 years, but not at other ages, whereas exposure to farm animals was positively associated.
Study context
- Population
- Women of the E3N French cohort (Etude Epidémiologique auprès des femmes de la Mutuelle générale de l'Education Nationale)698 incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases
- Participants
- 78,473 women
- Exposure
- Childhood exposure to pets and farm animals vs no exposure
- Outcome
- Incident RA in adulthood
Methodological detailsCox models, confounders selected via directed acyclic graphs
- Cox models
- Confounders selected via directed acyclic graphs
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident RA
Each group vs no exposureAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Pets at 1-2 yearsregardless of smoking status
0.57(0.34–0.95)
Farm animalsborderline; irrespective of age at exposure
1.26(1.00–1.59)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Early-life animal and farming exposures and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: findings from the E3N French cohort study. RMD Open. Published 7 December 2025. doi:10.
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