Table 3.
Hazard ratios for total mortality for women with RA by serologic phenotype compared to women without RA in the Nurses’ Health Study (1976–2012)*
| Deaths | Person-years | Mortality rate† | Age-adjusted HR (95% CI) | Multivariable HR (95% CI)‡ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All RA | |||||
| No RA | 28,501 | 3,678,801 | 775 | 1.00 (reference) | 1.00 (reference) |
| RA | 307 | 17,983 | 1,707 | 1.45 (1.30–1.63) | 1.40 (1.25–1.57) |
| Seropositive RA | |||||
| No RA | 28,492 | 3,425,924 | 832 | 1.00 (reference) | 1.00 (reference) |
| RA | 202 | 10,869 | 1,858 | 1.59 (1.38–1.82) | 1.51 (1.31–1.74) |
| Seronegative RA | |||||
| No RA | 28,501 | 3,666,676 | 777 | 1.00 (reference) | 1.00 (reference) |
| RA | 105 | 7,113 | 1,476 | 1.18 (0.97–1.43) | 1.15 (0.95–1.39) |
RA = rheumatoid arthritis; HR = hazard ratio; 95% CI = 95% confidence interval.
Per 100,000 person-years.
Model adjusted for age, questionnaire cycle, census-tract family income (<$40,000 or ≥$40,000 per year), body mass index (<18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25–29.9, or ≥30 kg/m2), cigarette smoking (never–10, 10.1–20, or >20 pack-years), postmenopausal hormone use (premenopausal, postmenopausal: never postmenopausal hormone use, postmenopausal: past postmenopausal hormone use, or postmenopausal: current postmenopausal hormone use), moderate to vigorous physical activity (0, 0.01–0.99, 1.00–3.49, 3.50–5.99, or ≥6 hours per week), cumulative average of Alternate Healthy Eating Index excluding alcohol component (quintiles), alcohol consumption (0, 0.1–4.9, 5.0–14.9, or ≥15.0 gm/day), cardiovascular disease (yes/no), and aspirin use (yes/no). Covariates were updated up to death, end of study period, censor, or loss to follow-up, whichever came first.