Rheumatoid Factor, Smoking, and Disease Severity: | Arthritis Information

 

From the Journal of Rheumatology:

The majority of mortality studies published over the last 15 years have identified excess mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohorts compared to that in the general population (Table 1^1-17), and many have highlighted excess mortality from cardiovascular causes. Methodology and study design seem to affect the magnitude of the mortality rates, with community-based and inception-cohort followup studies being associated with smaller increases in standardized mortality ratios (SMR) than studies of established prevalent RA cohorts. In this issue of The Journal, Gonzalez, et al explore mortality rates in a population-based cohort of RA patients from Rochester, Minnesota, USA, stratified by rheumatoid factor (RF) status¹⁷. They report modest increases in SMR for RA patients who were RF-positive, but found that patients with persistently RF-negative RA had mortality rates similar to those in the general population. Other studies have reported similar findings, with excess mortality being observed only in the RF-positive patients in both hospital-based² and community-based cohorts^5,18,19.

 

http://www.jrheum.com/subscribers/08/06/945.html

*whew* .. RF negative here.. I believe  there have been reports that smokers have 3 times the risk of getting RA as non-smokers.  2 of my daughters smoke and it frustrates me terribly.

I'm seronegative but still I had a stroke at 55.   Janelex, I smoked for over 40 years. I had a stroke at 50.
I quit 6 years ago ( Cold Turkey) It was so hard. But it can be done. When you smoke I think you retard your health. So, you are always working against it.
I thank God that I was able to quit almost 9 months ago after 35 yrs smoking!  I would not take a puff again for anything.

I am positive...once again....which I totally do not understand. But I don't smoke, but I have some excess poundage that needs to go. That makes me at increased risk.
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