Reduced incidence of alcohol related deaths in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives-It has previously been shown that people with ankylosing spondyl itis have an increased incidence of alcohol related deaths from accidents a nd violence. This study investigated alcohol related deaths in subjects wit h rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods-The study covered the subjects, 1666 in number, who had died in 198 9 and had been entitled under the nationwide sickness insurance scheme to r eceive specially reimbursed medication for RA. Results-There were eight alcohol related deaths among the 480 men and three deaths among the 1186 women with RA. The standardised mortality ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 0.40 (95% CI 0.20, 0.80) and 0.40 (95% CI 0.13, 1.26), respectively. Conclusion-Alcohol either protects from RA or, subjects with RA curtail the ir drinking after the manifestation of RA.