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A comprehensive long-term study conducted by researchers from Anhui Medical University in China has identified several hormonal and reproductive factors associated with an elevated risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women. The autoimmune disease, which predominantly affects women, can be influenced by factors such as early menopause (before 45), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and having four or more children.
Women face a significantly higher susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis compared to men, being 4-5 times more likely to develop the condition under the age of 50 and twice as likely between the ages of 60 and 70. The study, published in the open-access journal RMD Open, delves into the potential impact of hormonal and reproductive factors on the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women.
Drawing on data from 223,526 participants in the UK Biobank, the researchers tracked health outcomes over an average of 12 years. Among the participants, 1.5% of women (3,313 individuals) developed rheumatoid arthritis. The study accounted for various influencing factors, including lifestyle, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and body mass index (BMI).
Key findings from the study include:
- Starting periods after the age of 14 associated with a 17% higher risk compared to starting at age 13.
- Undergoing menopause before the age of 45 linked to a 46% heightened risk compared to menopause at age 50-51.
- Fewer than 33 reproductive years (interval between starting periods and menopause) associated with a 39% increased risk.
- Having four or more children correlated with an 18% higher risk compared to having two children.
- Hysterectomy or removal of one or both ovaries associated with 40% and 21% higher risks, respectively.
- No clear association found between oral contraceptive pill use and rheumatoid arthritis risk.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use associated with a 46% higher risk, and its duration showed a 2% increase in risk.
While the study is observational, the researchers suggest that evaluating hormonal and reproductive factors should be an integral part of assessing rheumatoid arthritis risk in women. The findings may contribute to the development of targeted intervention measures for the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis in women.
