Influence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: case control study in general practice

OBJECTIVES:To test the hypothesis that prior antibiotics influences the risk of developing RA. METHODS:A case-control study was conducted over 15 years using the UK's Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre database. The frequency and type of antibiotic prescript...

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Main Authors: Armstrong, D, Dregan, A, Ashworth, M, White, P, McGee, C, De Lusignan, S
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2019
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author Armstrong, D
Dregan, A
Ashworth, M
White, P
McGee, C
De Lusignan, S
author_facet Armstrong, D
Dregan, A
Ashworth, M
White, P
McGee, C
De Lusignan, S
author_sort Armstrong, D
collection OXFORD
description OBJECTIVES:To test the hypothesis that prior antibiotics influences the risk of developing RA. METHODS:A case-control study was conducted over 15 years using the UK's Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre database. The frequency and type of antibiotic prescription for patients who subsequently developed RA were compared with antibiotic prescriptions in a control group of patients who remained free of RA. Cases, defined as patients with a new diagnosis of RA made between 2006 and 2018, were matched with up to four RA-free controls on practice, age, gender and date of diagnosis. Exposure was measured by the number and type of prescriptions for antibiotics prior to the RA diagnosis or to the index date in controls. RESULTS:A total of 8482 patients with a new diagnosis of RA between 2006 and 2018 were compared with 22 661 controls. There was a higher likelihood of an RA diagnosis after antibiotic prescriptions within 1 year, 5 years and ever with a strong dose-response. Patients receiving >10 antibiotics in a 5 year period were more than twice as likely to receive an RA diagnosis as controls [adjusted odds ratio 2.65 (CI 2.40, 2.93)]. CONCLUSION:Exposure to antibiotics prior to the diagnosis was a significant risk factor for RA. This could reflect an immunological response to a compromised microbiome. Alternatively, patients with pre-symptomatic or early undiagnosed RA may have been more likely to present to their general practitioner with infections due to an unrecognized effect of RA.
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spelling oxford-uuid:37bbfe44-a2ba-4e61-bb4d-f05922218d0d2022-03-26T13:45:45ZInfluence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: case control study in general practiceJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:37bbfe44-a2ba-4e61-bb4d-f05922218d0dEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordOxford University Press2019Armstrong, DDregan, AAshworth, MWhite, PMcGee, CDe Lusignan, SOBJECTIVES:To test the hypothesis that prior antibiotics influences the risk of developing RA. METHODS:A case-control study was conducted over 15 years using the UK's Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre database. The frequency and type of antibiotic prescription for patients who subsequently developed RA were compared with antibiotic prescriptions in a control group of patients who remained free of RA. Cases, defined as patients with a new diagnosis of RA made between 2006 and 2018, were matched with up to four RA-free controls on practice, age, gender and date of diagnosis. Exposure was measured by the number and type of prescriptions for antibiotics prior to the RA diagnosis or to the index date in controls. RESULTS:A total of 8482 patients with a new diagnosis of RA between 2006 and 2018 were compared with 22 661 controls. There was a higher likelihood of an RA diagnosis after antibiotic prescriptions within 1 year, 5 years and ever with a strong dose-response. Patients receiving >10 antibiotics in a 5 year period were more than twice as likely to receive an RA diagnosis as controls [adjusted odds ratio 2.65 (CI 2.40, 2.93)]. CONCLUSION:Exposure to antibiotics prior to the diagnosis was a significant risk factor for RA. This could reflect an immunological response to a compromised microbiome. Alternatively, patients with pre-symptomatic or early undiagnosed RA may have been more likely to present to their general practitioner with infections due to an unrecognized effect of RA.
spellingShingle Armstrong, D
Dregan, A
Ashworth, M
White, P
McGee, C
De Lusignan, S
Influence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: case control study in general practice
title Influence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: case control study in general practice
title_full Influence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: case control study in general practice
title_fullStr Influence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: case control study in general practice
title_full_unstemmed Influence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: case control study in general practice
title_short Influence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis: case control study in general practice
title_sort influence of prior antibiotic use on risk of rheumatoid arthritis case control study in general practice
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