PERIODONTITIS AS A RISK FACTOR FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: APPLYING BRADFORD HILLS CRITERIA OF ASSOCIATION

Dr. Ritu Phogat*, Dr. Manjunath B. C., Dr. Mamta Rani, Dr. Kiran B., Dr. Manoj Yadav and Dr. Deepak Sindhu

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a clinical condition occurs as a result of development of disease-related autoantibodies and joint symptoms and signs, which may be considered nonspecific or unclassified for RA. This condition includes the interaction between many genetic and environmental risk factors. Recently there are emerging evidences that periodontitis is potential risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis. But it is difficult to assign any particular condition as a risk factor for RA particularly for periodontitis due to its bidirectional nature of relationship. For that we have Bradford Hill nine criteria have to help determine if observed epidemiologic associations are causal. Here we are exploring the periodontitis as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis based on these hill’s criteria’s. Identifying and modifying risk factors such as periodontitis will be useful in preventing RA in susceptible population.

Keywords: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Periodontitis, Causation, Causal Inference, Bradford Hill.