Table 5 Risk of RA in relation to combined atrazine with alachlor and/or metolachlor use.

From: Associations between pesticide use and rheumatoid arthritis among older farmers in the Agricultural Health Study

Ever used1:

Non-cases2

Specialist-confirmed cases2

Relative Risk1

(N = 22,320)

(N = 161)

(95% CI)

N (%)

N (%)

Atrazine + alachlor and/or metolachlor

None of these

3552 (18)

21 (15)

Reference

Alachlor and/or metolachlor, not atrazine

1534 (8)

< 11 (*)

1.39 (0.65–2.96)

Atrazine, not metolachlor or alachlor

3056 (16)

20 (15)

1.29 (0.70–2.39)

Atrazine, and alachlor and/or metolachlor

11,269 (58)

88 (63)

1.84 (1.11–3.04)

  1. 1Lifetime history ever used specific pesticides at enrollment (1993–1997) or first follow-up (1999–2003) prior to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis.
  2. 2Among participants with ≥ 24 months continuous fee for service (FFS) coverage (Parts A and B coverage without Part C), including an initial ≥ 12-month clean period with no claims for rheumatoid arthritis; specialist-confirmed cases had ≥ 2 claims for RA ≥ 30 days apart plus claims from a rheumatologist. Asterix (*) indicates percent not shown if number or percent not shown due to < 11 in a cell or ability to infer the count of groups with < 11 exposed cases in conjunction with other data presented.
  3. 3Relative Risk estimates calculated using log binomial regression, adjusted for categorical age (40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70+), state (NC, IA), education (≤ high school, > high school), and smoking pack year.
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