Autoimmune Confirmation Study
Social & Scientific Systems, in collaboration with SRA Batelle, conducted a confirmation study on self-reported diagnoses of systemic autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and Sjogren syndrome) reported by AHS participants during followup. The confirmed cases will constitute a refined case group to allow etiologic analyses of pesticides and other farming-related exposures as possible risk factors for these diseases, using data that have already been collected. The cases can also be used in a nested case-control study that could be designed to collect additional exposure data (e.g., on silica-related exposures). Staff requested permission from participants to obtain their medical records and a physician checklist confirming their diagnoses.