Cigarette smoking and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis among postmenopausal women: results from the Iowa Women's Health Study.

Purpose: To determine whether cigarette smoking increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis among postmenopausal women.

Subjects And Methods: We followed a cohort of 31 336 women in Iowa who were aged 55 to 69 years in 1986 and who had no history of rheumatoid arthritis. Through 1997, 158 cases of rheumatoid arthritis were identified and validated based on review of medical records and supplementary information provided by physicians.

Coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: results from the Iowa Women's Health Study.

Objective: To evaluate whether coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption are risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) onset among older women.

Methods: These factors were evaluated in a prospective cohort study that was initiated in 1986 and that included 31,336 women ages 55-69 years without a history of RA. Risk factor data were self-reported using a mailed questionnaire.