Over the last few decades, there have been discussions regarding health issues associated with smoking cigarettes – or even exposure to secondhand smoke. For example, cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, strokes, or even tuberculosis. In the past, studies have shown that cigarette smoking could increase rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk. But could passive smoke inhalation (i.e. secondhand smoke) also increase the risk of RA, without having ever touched a cigarette? 

Well, according to Medical XPress, research performed by a team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital potentially linked secondhand smoke exposure in childhood to a heightened risk of seropositive RA in adulthood. In fact, the risk increased by 75%! Interested in learning more? Take a look at the full findings published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Passive Smoking

To perform this study, researchers first sourced data from 90,923 females aged 35-52 through the Nurses’ Health Study II. Altogether, the data was collected over a 28-year period. Although this study centered on the female experience, researchers hope to expand their study parameters in the future to better understand the impact of RA, or other autoimmune conditions, for males.

After sourcing this data, researchers explored how many participants had mothers who smoked cigarettes while pregnant; how many had mothers who smoked cigarettes throughout childhood; and how many had lived with smokers in adulthood (aged 18+). They also used tools such as statistical modeling to understand how each incidence of passive smoking affected RA risk, as well as to account for those who, in adulthood, also smoked. Ultimately, findings included:

• Patients who experienced secondhand smoke as children, due to their parents’ smoking, had a 75% increased risk of developing RA. For those who also smoked as adults, their risk of developing RA further increased.
• However, there was no increased risk associated with living with smokers after age 18 or having a mother who smoked during pregnancy.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder which can affect multiple joints throughout the body. In patients with RA, the immune system mistakenly attacks bodily tissue and joint linings, causing painful and sometimes debilitating inflammation. While joints, including those in hands and feet, are often affected, RA may also affect blood vessels, skin, or the heart and lungs.

Unfortunately, RA is difficult to predict. In some patients, it may never progress, while it may progress rapidly in others. For others, even, the condition progresses slowly over a longer period of time. Patients may experience asymptomatic periods punctuated by symptomatic periods. Risk factors include being female, being middle-aged, being overweight, or having a family history of RA. Symptoms include:

• Skin lumps or redness
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Fatigue and/or general malaise
• Fever
• Unintended weight loss
• Swelling or bumps on the fingers
• Joint pain, swelling, tenderness, weakness, stiffness, or redness
• Dry mouth
• Muscle and back pain
• “Pins and needles” sensation
• Appetite loss
• Osteoporosis