Certain professional activities have negative effects on health, such as night work or repetitive movements. Scientists from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have investigated occupations that predispose to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory disease of the joints that causes them to swell and make them painful.
In their study published in Arthritis Care and Research, researchers analyzed health data from 3,522 people with rheumatoid arthritis and 5,580 healthy people. Between 1996 and 2014, they asked them to complete questionnaires and provide blood samples to collect information on environment, genetics, immunological factors and professional activity.
Men and women affected differently
The researchers took into account other aspects that may have an influence on the onset of this disease: cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, level of education and body mass index. After analyzing all these data, it appears that men working in industry and construction are the most affected, compared to those working in the administration or technical sectors. Thus, workers in electronics and electricity and material handlers are twice as affected as the reference group. The increased risk is up to three times greater for masons and concrete manufacturers.
Due to the small number of women working in the industrial sector, these results were not found in this population. On the other hand, nursing assistants and domestic staff, a predominantly female profession, are also more affected.
In addition, researchers point to harmful airborne substances used in industry, such as silicone, asbestos, organic solvents and exhaust gases. Further studies may determine the exact effect of these substances.
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