Childhood socioeconomic factors and perinatal characteristics influence development of rheumatoid arthritis in adulthood.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES), but the reasons for this are not known.

Objective

To examine childhood SES measures, SES trajectory and other perinatal factors in relation to RA.

Methods

The sample included 50 884 women, aged 35-74 (84% non-Hispanic white) enrolled 2004-9 in a US national cohort study. In baseline questionnaires, cases (N=424, 0.8%) reported RA diagnosis after age 16, ever use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or steroids for RA and ≥6 weeks bilateral joint swelling. Childhood SES measures are presented as OR and 95% CI adjusted for age and race/ethnicity. Analyses of perinatal factors also adjusted for childhood SES, and joint effects of childhood and adult SES and smoking exposur

SUBMITTER: Parks CG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5029277 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature