Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a growing concern among older adults. Many known risk factors are associated with RA, but a new study published in the journal Rheumatology suggests a link between air pollution and the condition.
For this study, researchers from the University of Verona, Italy, collected longitudinal data of patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis and daily concentrations of air pollutants in the area. A case-crossover study used this data to examine the correlation between rheumatoid arthritis flares and air pollution. Exposure to pollutants was compared in 30- and 60-day periods preceding an arthritic flare.
