Table 1

Characteristics of ACPA-positive RA cases and controls

VariablesCases, ACPA positive (n=736)Controls (n=872)OR (95 % CI)*p Value
No SE alleles (%)111 (15.08)414 (47.5)Reference<0.0001
SE alleles, heterozygote (%)383 (52.04)373 (42.8)4.0 (3.1 to 5.1)<0.0001
SE alleles, homozygote (%)242 (32.88)85 (9.75)11.5 (8.1 to 16.1)<0.0001
Never smokers (%)207 (28.12)347 (39.79)Reference<0.0001
Ever smokers (%)529 (71.88)525 (60.21)1.8 (1.4 to 2.2)<0.0001
Ever smokers, pack years
Never smokers (%)207 (28.2)347 (39.8)Reference<0.0001
0–9 (%)159 (21.6)219 (25.14)1.2 (1.0 to 1.6)0.084
10–19 (%)144 (19.6)134 (15.43)2.0 (1.6 to 2.6)<0.0001
20– (%)225 (30.6)171 (19.63)2.6 (2.0 to 3.3)<0.0001
p Value for trend regarding OR for pack years<0.0001
Years since quitting smoking
Never smokers207347Reference<0.0001
0–91431772.4 (1.8 to 3.1)<0.0001
10–19711271.7 (1.2 to 2.3)0.004
20601331.4 (1.0 to 2.0)0.08
p Value for trend regarding OR for years since quitting<0.0001
  • * OR and corresponding 95% CI adjusted for sex, age and residential area.

  • Information regarding pack years missing for one case and one control.

  • p Value for differences in proportions regarding pack years of smoking between cases and controls.

  • ACPA, anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibody; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SE, shared epitope.