Disease activity and health-related quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis with different alcohol consumption habits

Multiple studies have found a relationship between alcohol consumption and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) although reverse causation has been suggested to explain the association. A study investigated the relationship between alcohol consumption and disease activity, disease progression and health-related quality of life in patients with RA.
1,228 patients with newly diagnosed RA from the population-based case-control study EIRA (Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis) were followed up. Drinkers and non-drinkers were compared regarding risk of unfavourable outcomes regarding disease activity and health-related quality of life.
Non-drinkers at baseline had higher disease activity and estimated their pain as more severe compared to drinkers. At 1-year follow-up, non-drinkers reported higher swollen and tender joint counts, they experienced more pain and fatigue, lower global health, and lower health-related quality of life. The inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and RA-specific outcomes was also observed when comparing drinkers and non-drinkers who had not changed their alcohol consumption habits at or after the year of disease onset. Those who stopped drinking post-baseline experienced higher disease activity, more pain and lower health-related quality of life at 1-year follow-up, compared to drinkers, although there was no difference in disease activity at baseline between drinkers who continued versus discontinued drinking. The authors say that these findings speak against bias due to reverse causation.
Alcohol consumption was dose-dependently associated with lower disease activity and higher health-related quality of life in RA patients.
Source: Alfredsson L, Klareskog L, Hedström AK. Disease activity and health-related quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis with different alcohol consumption habits. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023 Jan 11.