Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter and ozone and the onset of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases: an open cohort study in Quebec, Canada

OBJECTIVES: To estimate associations between fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) and ozone and the onset of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). METHODS: An open cohort of over 6 million adults was constructed from provincial physician billing and hospitalization records between 2000 and 2013. We defined incident SARD cases (SLE, Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa and related conditions, polymyalgia rheumatic, other necrotizing vasculopathies, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease) based on at least two relevant billing diagnostic codes (within 2 years, with at least 1 billing from a rheumatologist), or at least one relevant hospitalization diagnostic code. Estimated PM(2.5) and ozone concentrations (derived from remote sensing and/or chemical transport models) were assigned to subjects based on residential postal codes, updated throughout follow-up. Cox proportional hazards models with annual exposure levels were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for SARDs incidence, adjusting for sex, age, urban-versus-rural residence, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: The adjusted HR for SARDS related to one interquartile range increase in PM(2.5) (3.97 µg/m(3)) was 1.12 (95% confidence interval 1.08–1.15), but there was no clear association with ozone. Indirectly controlling for smoking did not alter the findings. CONCLUSIONS: We found associations between SARDs incidence and PM(2.5), but no relationships with ozone. Additional studies are needed to better understand interplays between the many constituents of air pollution and rheumatic diseases. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-022-02843-5.