Crystalline silica exposure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis: a nationwide cross-sectional survey

• Published in: Rheumatology 2023-08, Vol.62 (8), p.2707-2715
• Main Authors: Cavalin, Catherine, Lescoat, Alain, Sigaux, Johanna, Macchi, Odile, Ballerie, Alice, Catinon, Mickaël, Vincent, Michel, Semerano, Luca, Boissier, Marie-Christophe, Rosental, Paul-André
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arthritis, Rheumatoid - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Human health and pathology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; Risk Factors; Scleroderma, Systemic - chemically induced; Scleroderma, Systemic - epidemiology; Silicon Dioxide - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1462-0324; 1462-0332; 1460-2172
• DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac675

Abstract Objectives Develop and validate a thorough exposure questionnaire to comprehensively explore crystalline silica (SiO2) exposure in the general population (gender-specific, occupational and non-occupational) and in patients with autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc)). Methods Lifetime exposures to SiO2 in occupational and non-occupational settings were assessed using a thorough exposure questionnaire. The questionnaire was applied to a general population panel (n = 2911) sampled from the French rolling census, and to unselected patients with SSc (n = 100) and RA (n = 97). Global (GES), occupational (OES) and non-occupational (NOES) exposure scores were assessed in SSc and RA patients, and compared with up to four controls from the general population, matched by age group, sex and tobacco consumption. Results Patients had higher GES than their matched controls (SSc: P = 0.001; RA: P