Journal article
Insecticide use and risk of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study
Arthritis care & research (2010), v 63(2), pp 184-194
Feb 2011
PMID: 20740609
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Farming and agricultural pesticide use has been associated with 2 autoimmune rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, risk associated with other residential or work place insecticide use is unknown.
We analyzed data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (n=76,861 postmenopausal women, ages 50-79 years). Incident cases (n=213: 178 for RA, 27 for SLE, and 8 for both) were identified based on self-report and use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs at year 3 of followup. We examined self-reported residential or work place insecticide use (personally mixing/applying by self and application by others) in relation to RA/SLE risk, overall and in relation to farm history. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were adjusted for age, race, region, education, occupation, smoking, reproductive factors, asthma, other autoimmune diseases, and comorbidities.
Compared with never used, personal use of insecticides was associated with increased RA/SLE risk, with significant trends for greater frequency (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.17-3.56 for ≥6 times/year) and duration (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.20-3.23 for ≥20 years). Risk was also associated with long-term insecticide application by others (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.07-3.20 for ≥20 years) and frequent application by others among women with a farm history (HR 2.73, 95% CI 1.10-6.78 for ≥6 times/year).
These results suggest residential and work place insecticide exposure is associated with the risk of autoimmune rheumatic diseases in postmenopausal women. Although these findings require replication in other populations, they support a role for environmental pesticide exposure in the development of autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Insecticide use and risk of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study
- Creators
- Christine G Parks - National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesBrian T Walitt - MedStar Washington Hospital CenterMary Pettinger - Fred Hutch Cancer CenterJiu-Chiuan Chen - University of California Keck School of Medicine, Los AngelesAnneclaire J de Roos - Fred Hutch Cancer CenterJulie Hunt - Fred Hutch Cancer CenterGloria Sarto - University of Wisconsin–MadisonBarbara V Howard - MedStar Health
- Publication Details
- Arthritis care & research (2010), v 63(2), pp 184-194
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- 24152 / PHS HHS 32108-9 / PHS HHS 32105-6 / PHS HHS 32122 / PHS HHS 32111-13 / PHS HHS N01-WH-22110 / WHI NIH HHS Z99 ES999999 / Intramural NIH HHS 32115 / PHS HHS 42129-32 / PHS HHS 44221 / PHS HHS 32100-2 / PHS HHS 42107-26 / PHS HHS 32118-32119 / PHS HHS N01WH22110 / WHI NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000287208800003
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-79551512143
- Other Identifier
- 991020099817704721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Rheumatology