Stopping tobacco smoking in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

All patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should be strongly advised to stop smoking tobacco. Not only is smoking linked to the development of RA, but it is also linked to poor prognosis and is a predictor of poor response to therapy. Smoking increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in a patient group already at increased risk (due to systemic inflammation).

Patient resources and advice for how to stop smoking are available from many state and national resources, including the Australian Government Department of Health–How to quit smoking. See also Tobacco smoking and nicotine dependence in the Addiction guideline.