Men working in the manufacturing sector are more susceptible to developing rheumatoid arthritis than those working in other sectors, suggests a study.
A group of researchers collected data from 3,522 people with rheumatoid arthritis and 5,580 healthy people. Information was obtained on various environmental, genetic, and immunological factors using the participants’ blood samples and the questionnaires filled by them between 1996 and 2014.
The researchers also took note of the factors related to rheumatoid arthritis such as smoking habits, alcohol use, educational background, and body mass index.
The results revealed that men working in the electrical and electronics domain, and as material handling operators within the manufacturing sector, were two times more prone to developing rheumatoid arthritis than those working in professional, administrative and technical fields. In fact, bricklayers and concrete workers had a three-fold higher risk.
In contrast, no risk of arthritis was found in women involved in the manufacturing sector. The relatively small number of women employed in this sector compared to men might explain this trend, the researchers suggested.
It was speculated that airborne harmful exposures may play a role in disease development. Silica, asbestos, organic solvents, were considered as some of the probable factors.
In light of this, it appears important that awareness is spread among the employees, employers, and decision-makers about the controllable risk factors so that these potentially harmful exposures can be avoided, they added.
Source: Arthritis Care & Research Journal