Associations of Specific Pesticides and Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis Among Female Spouses in the Agricultural Health Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Growing evidence suggests farming and agricultural pesticide use may be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but few studies have examined specific pesticides and RA among women living on farms, who may personally use pesticides or may be indirectly exposed. We investigated pesticide use and RA risk among female spouses of licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study.

Methods

Participants were enrolled in 1993 to 1997 in North Carolina and Iowa (N = 32,126). Incident RA cases were identified in follow-up questionnaires (1999-2021) and confirmed by medical records, relevant medication use, or Medicare claims data (1999-2016) or identified from Medicare claims if lacking questionnaire data on RA. Noncases reported no RA and had no RA Medicar

SUBMITTER: Parks CG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12571051 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature