Influence of Smoking on Disease Activity and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a Swedish Case–Control Study With Longitudinal Follow‐Up
Authors' conclusion
Current smoking is associated with increased disease activity and lower HRQoL among RA patients. Smoking cessation within the first year after baseline appears to have a favorable effect on disease activity.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the population-based case-control Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis study, Sweden, followed up for up to 3 years
- Participants
- 1,531 patients
- Exposure
- Current smokers vs non-smokers; smoking cessation vs continued smoking
- Outcome
- Disease activity (self-reported swollen and tender joint counts) and HRQoL (SF-36, HAQ, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), as OR of unfavourable outcomes
- Follow-up
- 1 and 3 years
Methodological detailspopulation-based case-control study with longitudinal follow-up, logistic regression
- Population-based case-control study with longitudinal follow-up
- Logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Disease activity and HRQoL
- Current smokers reported higher disease activity and lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) vs non-smokers, physical and mental aspects
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Swollen joint counts after cessation within 1 year
- Stopping smoking within 1 year post-baseline: less disease activity (swollen joint counts) vs continued smoking
Late smoking cessation (after 1-year follow-up)
- Higher disease activity and lower HRQoL at baseline than smokers who did not quit; late cessation not associated with more favourable outcomes vs continued smoking
Original publication
Influence of Smoking on Disease Activity and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a Swedish Case–Control Study With Longitudinal Follow‐Up. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 16 January 2023. doi:10.
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