Passive smoking and Rheumatoid Arthritis linked

Passive smoking in childhood has a rheumatoid arthritis link. 

This study was done with over 70,000 women at University Hospitals of South Paris. It discovered the alarming fact that the women who had been exposed to cigarettes smoke in their childhood had a significantly increased risk of getting Rheumatoid Arthritis in later life.

"Our study highlights the importance of avoiding any tobacco environment in children, especially in those with a family history of RA," said Professor Raphaele Seror.

The participants were asked if as a child they were in a smoky room and for how many hours a day. 

RA is the most common chronic inflammatory joint disease, affecting about 0.5-1% of the general population and causing progressive joint destruction, disability and reduced life expectancy. 

In recent years, many potential environmental factors have been associated with an increased risk of developing RA, but so far smoking is the only one that has been extensively studied. 

SOURCE: eular Press Releases for 16.06.17 pdf

The study from University Hospitals of South Paris is significant because it establishes a link between childhood exposure to passive smoking and an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) later in life. This finding adds a critical dimension to the understanding of RA, a chronic inflammatory joint disease affecting 0.5-1% of the population, which leads to progressive joint damage, disability, and reduced life expectancy.

Key points of significance:

1. New Environmental Risk Factor: While smoking has been extensively studied as a risk factor for RA, this study highlights passive smoking—specifically in childhood—as a new environmental trigger. This expands the scope of preventive measures beyond active smoking.

2. Childhood Exposure Matters: The study’s focus on childhood exposure underscores the long-term health consequences of early-life environmental factors. It suggests that the developing immune system may be particularly vulnerable to tobacco smoke, potentially programming increased RA risk decades later.

3. Public Health Implications: Professor Raphaele Seror’s statement emphasizes the need to protect children from tobacco smoke, especially those with a family history of RA. This could inform public health campaigns and policies aimed at reducing secondhand smoke exposure in homes and public spaces.

4. Strength of Evidence: With a large sample size (over 70,000 women), the study provides strong data, and reliable findings. The methodology, which included assessing hours of exposure to smoky environments, adds specificity to the link between passive smoking and RA risk.

5. Broader Context: Although smoking is a known risk factor for RA, this study shifts attention to passive exposure, suggesting that other environmental factors may also play a role. This opens areas for further research into how early-life exposures contribute to autoimmune diseases.

In summary, this study stresses the importance of minimizing childhood exposure to tobacco smoke as a preventive measure against RA, particularly for those with genetic predispositions. It strengthens the case for stricter tobacco control policies and highlights the need for further research into environmental triggers of autoimmune diseases.