Silica Dust Exposure Increases Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Swedish National Registry Case-Control Study

Abstract

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease with unknown etiology. This study examines if silica dust exposure increases the risk for seropositive and seronegative RA.

Methods: A nationwide registry case-control study was conducted that included all cases of RA in Sweden between 2005 and 2016. In total, 31,139 cases with two matched controls were included. A JEM was used to estimate exposure.

Results: Silica dust exposure was associated with a statistically significant increase in odds ratio (OR) for seropositive (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.40) and seronegative (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.46) RA among men.

Conclusion: This study found an increased OR for RA in silica-exposed men. The OR was equal for seropositive and seronegative RA. These findings further support the hypothesis that silica dust may be a trigger for RA.