The link between smoking and rheumatoid arthritis was featured in a story about a collaboration between Christie Bartels, MD, MS (pictured at right), assistant professor, Rheumatology and Megan Piper, PhD (pictured at far right), associate professor, General Internal Medicine and Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (CTRI). 

“Rheumatoid arthritis is 36 times more likely in patients who are current or former, and lupus is 50 percent more likely in patients who are current smokers,” explained Dr. Bartels. 

The study aims to identify tobacco cessation interventions that help patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus, also known as lupus. 

The trans-disciplinary effort includes a patient advisory board and clinical staff advisory board to identify patient-centered health outcomes and interventions that will best serve diverse, hard-to-reach patients who smoke and who have rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

“A lot of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus tend to see their rheumatology doctors for care more so than their primary care physicians,” said Dr. Piper. “If this is true, what if we directed efforts to address things like hypertension and smoking through the specialized clinics?”

Resources:

• "UW Health study focuses on connection between smoking, rheumatoid arthritis," WISC-TV, May 19, 2017
• "UW Rheumatology Collaborates with UW-CTRI to Help Patients Quit Smoking," UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention