Occupational determinants for rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible occupation al determinants for rheumatoid arthritis according to lifetime occupational history. Methods The cases were identified retrospectively from 1980 to 1995 at the University Hospital in Linkoping, Sweden, The study comprised 422 cases and 859 randomly selected referents. Exposure data were collected through a po stal questionnaire. Results For men, occupations with increased, although nonsignificant, odds ratios (OR) were farmers or farm workers [OR 1.8, 95% confidence interval ( 95% CI) 1.0-3.5], textile workers (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.3-16.2), asphalters (OR 14.0, 95% CI 1.2-799.0 without latency requirement), and employees at serv ice stations (OR 2.2, 95% CI 0.5-9.5). Among the women, hairdressers and be auticians (OR 2.7, 95% CI 0.8-8.6) had an increased risk for rheumatoid art hritis, as well as those exposed to hairdressing chemicals (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.0-9.4) and meat products (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-4.0). Conclusions Several of the findings in this study are in accordance with th ose of previous studies. The increased risks of rheumatoid arthritis for as phalters and employees at service stations an however new associations prev iously not described in the literature.