Quitting Smoking Does not Help Rheumatoid Arthritis

A new study suggests that quitting tobacco use (smoking) may not make any difference in the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Tobacco use is a known environmental risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, but it is unknown whether quitting tobacco use affects the Clinical Disease Activity Index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved rheumatoid arthritis patients. During the follow-up, ceased smokers did not have a better Clinical Disease Activity Index, compared to those who continued to use tobacco. However, the study did confirm previous the finding that current tobacco users have worse disease activity, compared to former or never smokers. Researchers concluded "In the short term, smoking cessation (tobacco use) did not appear to influence change in disease activity over time." Mark C Fisher of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and colleagues conducted the study and published it in the March 15, 2012 issue of the Journal of Rheumatology. Some researchers in the study were sponsored by drug companies. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which can cause pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in any joints, mostly common in the wrist and fingers. The disease affects more women than men aged 25 to 55 years. Tobacco use is harmful. Regardless of whether it affects Rheumatoid arthritis, smokers are advised to quit smoking, which causes many other diseases including lung cancer.