Sleep quality, duration, and multi-trajectories as predictors of rheumatoid arthritis: evidence from the english longitudinal study of ageing
Authors' conclusion
Poor SQ and shorter SD are independently related with an elevated risk of RA among middle-aged and older adults, partly mediated by depression.
Study context
- Population
- Adults free of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at baseline, English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)607 developed RA
- Exposure
- Moderate or poor sleep quality vs good sleep quality; shorter vs longer sleep duration
- Outcome
- Incident RA
Methodological detailsCox proportional hazards models, mediation analysis, group-based multi-trajectory modeling
- Cox proportional hazards models
- Mediation analysis
- Group-based multi-trajectory modeling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident RA by sleep quality
Each group vs good SQHazard ratio (95% CI)
Moderate SQ
1.23(1.02–1.48)
Poor SQ
1.50(1.20–1.87)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Incident RA per 1-hour reduction in sleep duration
- HR per 1-hour reduction in sleep
- 1.07 (linear association; 95% CI 1.01-1.17)
Mediation by depression
- Proportion of sleep quality (SQ)–RA total effect mediated by depression
- 40%
- Proportion of SD–RA total effect mediated by depression
- 44%
- Partial mediation
RA risk by joint sleep trajectory (three trajectory groups)
- Persistently poor-quality/short-sleep trajectory, highest RA risk, OR
- 1.70 (95% CI 1.11-2.56)
Original publication
Sleep quality, duration, and multi-trajectories as predictors of rheumatoid arthritis: evidence from the english longitudinal study of ageing. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 4 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →