SMOKING HISTORY, ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION, AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Objective-To investigate the effect of smoking on the development of s ystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and the association between alcohol consumption and the disease. Methods-450 subjects (150 SLE patients a nd 300 controls) from Nottingham, UK were interviewed in a case-contro l study. Controls were matched to cases for age and sex. All patients met at least four of the American Rheumatology Association criteria fo r SLE. Controls were randomly selected from the Nottingham Family Heal th Services Authority register. information was collected by interview administered questionnaire concerning demographic variables, smoking histories, and drinking habits. Results-Analysis of the data by condit ional logistic regression revealed current smokers to have a significa ntly increased risk of development of SLE compared with never smokers (odds ratio (OR) 1.95, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.14, 3.31), alth ough ex-smokers were not at increased risk. There was also suggestion of a marked, highly significant negative association between SLE and a lcohol consumption, the magnitude of which increased with units consum ed. Conclusions-This study suggests that current smokers are at increa sed risk of developing SLE compared with nonsmokers and ex-smokers. In contrast, alcohol consumption seems to be negatively associated with the disease.