10/10/2007

Results of a study published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism indicate that a person's occupation can increase his or her risk of dying from an autoimmune disease. The study, which was led by investigators from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, examined data from 1984 to 1998 to determine whether occupation might factor into the risk of dying from an autoimmune disease. Some occupations involving exposure to the public (such as nurses and teachers) were associated with an increased risk of dying from a systemic autoimmune disorder. Authors of the study theorize that exposure to multiple infectious agents may play a part in why certain workers who are in contact with the public have a higher risk of succumbing to autoimmune diseases. In addition to nurses and teachers, farmers, particularly those working with crops as opposed to livestock, and industrial occupations such as miners, textile workers, and loggers showed an increased risk of death from these diseases.

According to the researchers, the data gathered during this study can be used as starting points for future studies, including those that focus on gathering more detailed data on the specific occupations found to be at increased risk.

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