Smoking Ups RA Risk, Dulls Treatment Response: Questionnaire data showed show that TNF blockers are less effective in patients after 11 pack-years.

Major Findings: Smokers had a 68% increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis, compared with nonsmokers, and RA patients with a smoking history of 11-20 pack-years had a 60% reduced rate of response to 12 months of treatment with a TNF inhibitor.

Data Source: Case-control analysis of 290 people with new-onset RA and 1,160 matched controls drawn from a Swedish preventive medicine program. The second study involved 934 RA patients enrolled in a Swedish biologics treatment registry who answered a smoking-history questionnaire.

Disclosures: Dr. Turesson and Dr. Söderlin reported having no financial conflicts of interest.