Inflammatory lung disease a potential risk factor for onset of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: results from a pilot study.

Objectives: To assess the association between inflammatory lung disease and the risk of developing idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Methods: A population-based case-control study was conducted. Adult myositis cases, identified from the Swedish inpatient registry (diagnosed between 1995 and 1997), and randomly selected controls matched to cases on the date of birth, gender and residency, were asked to fill out a questionnaire with questions on lifestyle, environmental exposures and health.