Life Events, Caregiving, and Risk of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study
Authors' conclusion
Our findings support the idea that diverse stressors may increase risk of developing probable RA or SLE in postmenopausal women
Study context
- Population
- Postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study cohort
- Participants
- 211 vs 76,648
- Exposure
- Stressful life events and caregiving vs none
- Incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA)/systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)n = 211
- Noncasesn = 76,648reference
- Outcome
- Incident probable RA or SLE
- Follow-up
- Within 3 years after enrollment
Methodological detailsCox regression, adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, occupational class, education, pack-years of smoking and BMI
- Cox regression
- Adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, occupational class, education, pack-years of smoking and BMI
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident RA/SLE by stressor exposure
Estimate (95% CI)P value
3 or more life events
age-adjusted HR 1.70(1.14–2.53)
P = 0.0026for trendPhysical abuseP for trend for physical and verbal abuse
HR 2.48(1.02–6.04)
P = 0.0614for trendVerbal abuseP for trend for physical and verbal abuse
HR 1.34(0.89–2.02)
P = 0.0614for trend2 or more interpersonal events
HR 1.23(0.87–1.73)
P = 0.2403for trendFinancial stress
HR 1.22(0.90–1.64)
Caregiving 3 or more days per week
HR 1.25(0.87–1.81)
P = 0.2571for trendPer week, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sensitivity analysis excluding women with baseline depression symptoms or moderate-to-severe joint pain without diagnosed arthritis
- Results were similar
Original publication
Life Events, Caregiving, and Risk of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 14 July 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →