Lifetime exposure to self-reported occupational noise and prevalent rheumatoid arthritis in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2012)

Multiple risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been studied, but there is a dearth of research on occupational noise, which is highly prevalent in the United States (U.S.). This study aimed to determine whether occupational noise exposure was associated with an elevated risk of prevalent RA in the U.S. general population. Data from the 2011 to 2012 cross-sectional, population-based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for secondary analysis. Self-reported lifetime exposure to very loud noise was linked to self-reported doctor-diagnosed RA in a sample of 4192 participants. Weighted logistic regression was used to obtain nationally representative prevalence odds ratios (OR). The main and fully adjusted models yielded OR = 3.98 (95% CI: 1.74, 9.11) and OR = 2.84 (95% CI: 1.23, 6.57) for participants exposed for ≥ 15 years compared to never exposed participants. Excluding those diagnosed with RA more than five years before the interview, the effect dropped to OR = 3.67 (95% CI: 1.06, 12.75) in the main model, and was no longer significant in the fully adjusted model (OR = 2.68, 95% CI: 0.80, 8.96). The only significant effect modifier was race/ethnicity, with higher risk in Non-Hispanic whites. To conclude, long-term occupational noise exposure might be a modifiable risk factor for RA, but currently, the evidence base is very thin and tenuous.