Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a growing concern among older adults. Many known risk factors are associated with RA, but a new study published in the journal Rheumatology suggests a link between air pollution and the condition. For this study, researchers from the University of Verona, Italy, collected longitudinal data of patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis and daily concentrations of air pollutants in the area. A case-crossover study used this data to examine the correlation between rheumatoid arthritis flares and air pollution. Exposure to pollutants was compared in 30- and 60-day periods preceding an arthritic flare. A total of 888 rheumatoid arthritis patients were the focus of the study, along with their 3,396 follow-up visits. Researchers were able to identify an exposure-response relationship between air pollution concentration and the risk of having abnormal C reactive protein (CRP) levels. These CRP levels were increased in patients who were exposed to higher concentrations …