Air pollution exposure increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: A longitudinal and nationwide study |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;2. Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;3. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;4. Respiratory Therapy Intensive Care Unit, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan;5. Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan;6. Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;7. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | ObjectiveRheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with inhaled pollutants in several studies, and it is a disease of chronic inflammation. The association between air pollution and the risk of RA remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted this nationwide, retrospective, sex-stratification study to evaluate this association.MethodsWe collected data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID), maintained by the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance, and the Taiwan Air Quality-Monitoring Database (TAQMD), released by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency. The TAQMD provides the daily concentrations of particulate matter with the aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 74 ambient air quality-monitoring stations distributed all over Taiwan during 1998–2010. The LHID and TAQMD were linked according to the residential areas of insurants and the areas where the air quality-monitoring stations were located. A residential area was defined according to the location of the clinic and hospital that treated acute upper respiratory tract infections. The yearly average air pollutant concentrations were categorized into 4 levels based on quartiles. We evaluated the risk of RA in residents exposed to 4 levels of PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations.ResultsWe detected an increased risk of RA in participants exposed to PM2.5 and NO2. Among four quartiles of NO2 concentration, namely Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) in Q2, Q3, and Q4 compared with that in Q1 were 1.07 (95% confidence interval CI] = 0.76–1.50), 1.63 (95% CI = 1.16–2.31),and 1.49 (95% CI = 1.05–2.12), respectively. Regarding the PM2.5 concentrations, the aHRs after exposure to the Q2, Q3, and Q4 levels were 1.22 (95% CI = 0.85–1.74), 1.15 (95% CI = 0.82–1.62), and 0.79 (95% CI = 0.53–1.16), respectively.ConclusionThe results of this nationwide study suggest an increased risk of RA in residents exposed to NO2. |
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