RESEARCH - Blood transfusion, alcohol use, and anthropometric risk factors for RA in older women

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J Rheumatol. 2002 Feb;29(2):246-54.

Blood transfusion, alcohol use, and anthropometric risk factors for

rheumatoid arthritis in older women.

Cerhan JR, Saag KG, Criswell LA, Merlino LA, Mikuls TR.

Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,

Minnesota 55905, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether blood transfusion, alcohol use, or

anthropometric characteristics are risk factors for rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) in older women.

METHODS: These factors were evaluated in a prospective cohort study

that was initiated in 1986, and included 31,336 women aged 55-69 years

without a history of RA. Risk factor data were self-reported using a

mailed questionnaire. Through 1997, 158 cases of RA meeting at least 4

of 7 American College of Rheumatology criteria were identified and

validated by medical record review. The relative risk (RR) and 95%

confidence interval (CI) were used as the measure of association, and

were adjusted for the potential confounding effects of age, marital

status, smoking history, age at menopause, and use of estrogen

replacement therapy.

RESULTS: History of blood transfusion was inversely associated with RA

(multivariate RR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.48-1.08), and this association was

stronger for rheumatoid factor (RF) positive disease (RR = 0.59; 95%

CI 0.35-1.00). There were no associations for use of medications for

hyper- or hypothyroidism or adult onset diabetes. Anthropometric

factors (height, weight, body mass index, body fat distribution),

leisure time physical activity, and alcohol use were not associated

with risk of RA.

CONCLUSION: A history of blood transfusion was inversely associated

with RA, particularly RF positive RA. Anthropometric factors, physical

activity, and alcohol use did not influence the risk of RA in this

cohort of older women.

PMID: 11838841

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11838841

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