Effects of oral contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy on the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
OC use appears to protect against RA, while MHT may increase the risk of LORA.
Study context
- Population
- White British women from the UK Biobank (oral contraceptives (OC)–rheumatoid arthritis (RA) analysis n = 236,602; Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)–late-onset RA (LORA) analysis n = 102,466)236,602 (OC) and 102,466 (MHT)
- Exposure
- OC use vs never-use; MHT use vs never-use
- Outcome
- Development of RA (OC analysis) and late-onset RA (LORA; MHT analysis)
Methodological detailstime-dependent Cox regression, replicated in women from all ethnic groups
- Time-dependent Cox regression
- Replicated in women from all ethnic groups
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
RA risk by OC use
Each group vs OC never-usersHazard ratio (95% CI)
OC ever-users
0.89(0.82–0.96)
OC current users
0.81(0.73–0.91)
OC former users
0.92(0.84–1.00)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Late-onset RA (LORA) risk by MHT useMHT ever-usersvs MHT never-users | 1.16 (1.06–1.26) | |
| Late-onset RA (LORA) risk by MHT useMHT former usersvs MHT never-users | 1.13 (1.03–1.24) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Effects of oral contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy on the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 29 September 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →