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Ann Rheum Dis 1998;57:451-455 doi:10.1136/ard.57.8.451
  • Extended reports

Smoking history, alcohol consumption, and systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-control study

  1. Carolyn J Hardya,
  2. Benedict P Palmerb,
  3. Kenneth R Muirb,
  4. Alex J Suttonc,
  5. Richard J Powelld
  1. aSchool of Nursing, Education Centre, County Hospital, Lincoln, bDivision of Public Health Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Community Health Sciences, University Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, cDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, dClinical Immunology Unit, Department of Immunology, University Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham
  1. Dr K R Muir, Division of Public Health Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Community Health Sciences, University Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH.
  • Accepted 11 June 1998

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of smoking on the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and the association between alcohol consumption and the disease.

METHODS 450 subjects (150 SLE patients and 300 controls) from Nottingham, UK were interviewed in a case-control study. Controls were matched to cases for age and sex. All patients met at least four of the American Rheumatology Association criteria for SLE. Controls were randomly selected from the Nottingham Family Health Services Authority register. Information was collected by interview administered questionnaire concerning demographic variables, smoking histories, and drinking habits.

RESULTS Analysis of the data by conditional logistic regression revealed current smokers to have a significantly increased risk of development of SLE compared with never smokers (odds ratio (OR) 1.95, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.14, 3.31), although ex-smokers were not at increased risk. There was also suggestion of a marked, highly significant negative association between SLE and alcohol consumption, the magnitude of which increased with units consumed.

CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that current smokers are at increased risk of developing SLE compared with non-smokers and ex-smokers. In contrast, alcohol consumption seems to be negatively associated with the disease.

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