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Previous epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially seropositive RA. However, whether smoking cessation lowers risk for developing RA is unclear. To explore that question, investigators pooled data from two large prospective studies (Nurses' Health Study I and II).
Between 1976 and 2015, 1528 new cases of RA (63% seropositive) were identified in 230,000 women. Compared with never smoking, current smoking significantly raised risk for all RA and seropositive RA. Among past smokers, risk for seropositive RA was significantly lower in women who had stopped smoking for ≥30 years than in those who had stopped for <5 years. However, compared with risk in neve…