Work-related physical strain and development of joint inflammation in the trajectory of emerging inflammatory and rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Work-related physical strain increases the risk of subclinical joint inflammation and of developing RA.
Study context
- Population
- Subjects with clinically suspected arthralgia and symptom-free persons; occupation-related physical strain quantified with the International Standard Classification of Occupations
- Participants
- 501 vs 155
- Exposure
- Degrees of work-related physical strain (ISCO-quantified), clinically suspected arthralgia (CSA) patients and symptom-free persons
- CSAn = 501
- Symptom-free personsn = 155
- Outcome
- Imaging-detected subclinical joint inflammation (hand MRI: sum of synovitis/tenosynovitis/osteitis) and development of clinical arthritis/RA
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- CSA: degree of physical strain associated with severity of joint inflammation, independent of educational level/BMI/smoking; stronger association with increasing age (interaction physical strain-age)
- p=0.007
- Higher physical strain associated with higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development, age-dependent, independent of educational level/BMI/smoking (HR per 10-year increase in age)
- HR=1.20 (1.06-1.37)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Work-related physical strain and development of joint inflammation in the trajectory of emerging inflammatory and rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study. RMD Open. Published 9 April 2024. doi:10.
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