Associations of Alcohol Use with Radiographic Disease Progression in African Americans with Recent-onset Rheumatoid Arthritis

From the Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, Kansas; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Pittsburgh, Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Mr. Davis was supported by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Enhanced Medical Education Tract. Dr. Mikuls was supported by the Nebraska Arthritis Outcomes Research Center, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (VA Merit). The CLEAR Registry (Primary investigator, Dr. Bridges) is also supported by the US National Institutes of Health grant 2P60 AR048095 UAB Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center. M.L.R. Davis, MPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; K. Michaud, PhD, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center, and National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases; H. Sayles, MS, Department of Biostatistics, VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; D.L. Conn, MD, Emory University School of Medicine; L.W. Moreland, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Medicine; S.L. Bridges Jr, MD, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; T.R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Address correspondence to Dr. T. Mikuls, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Omaha VA Medical Center and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA. E-mail: tmikuls@unmc.edu Accepted for publication May 3, 2013.

From the Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, Kansas; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Pittsburgh, Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Mr. Davis was supported by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Enhanced Medical Education Tract. Dr. Mikuls was supported by the Nebraska Arthritis Outcomes Research Center, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (VA Merit). The CLEAR Registry (Primary investigator, Dr. Bridges) is also supported by the US National Institutes of Health grant 2P60 AR048095 UAB Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center. M.L.R. Davis, MPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; K. Michaud, PhD, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center, and National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases; H. Sayles, MS, Department of Biostatistics, VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; D.L. Conn, MD, Emory University School of Medicine; L.W. Moreland, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Medicine; S.L. Bridges Jr, MD, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; T.R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Address correspondence to Dr. T. Mikuls, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Omaha VA Medical Center and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA. E-mail: tmikuls@unmc.edu Accepted for publication May 3, 2013.

From the Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, Kansas; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Pittsburgh, Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Mr. Davis was supported by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Enhanced Medical Education Tract. Dr. Mikuls was supported by the Nebraska Arthritis Outcomes Research Center, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (VA Merit). The CLEAR Registry (Primary investigator, Dr. Bridges) is also supported by the US National Institutes of Health grant 2P60 AR048095 UAB Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center. M.L.R. Davis, MPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; K. Michaud, PhD, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center, and National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases; H. Sayles, MS, Department of Biostatistics, VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; D.L. Conn, MD, Emory University School of Medicine; L.W. Moreland, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Medicine; S.L. Bridges Jr, MD, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; T.R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Address correspondence to Dr. T. Mikuls, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Omaha VA Medical Center and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA. E-mail: tmikuls@unmc.edu Accepted for publication May 3, 2013.

From the Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, Kansas; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Pittsburgh, Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Mr. Davis was supported by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Enhanced Medical Education Tract. Dr. Mikuls was supported by the Nebraska Arthritis Outcomes Research Center, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (VA Merit). The CLEAR Registry (Primary investigator, Dr. Bridges) is also supported by the US National Institutes of Health grant 2P60 AR048095 UAB Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center. M.L.R. Davis, MPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; K. Michaud, PhD, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center, and National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases; H. Sayles, MS, Department of Biostatistics, VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; D.L. Conn, MD, Emory University School of Medicine; L.W. Moreland, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Medicine; S.L. Bridges Jr, MD, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; T.R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Address correspondence to Dr. T. Mikuls, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Omaha VA Medical Center and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA. E-mail: tmikuls@unmc.edu Accepted for publication May 3, 2013.

From the Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, Kansas; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Pittsburgh, Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Mr. Davis was supported by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Enhanced Medical Education Tract. Dr. Mikuls was supported by the Nebraska Arthritis Outcomes Research Center, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (VA Merit). The CLEAR Registry (Primary investigator, Dr. Bridges) is also supported by the US National Institutes of Health grant 2P60 AR048095 UAB Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center. M.L.R. Davis, MPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; K. Michaud, PhD, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center, and National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases; H. Sayles, MS, Department of Biostatistics, VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; D.L. Conn, MD, Emory University School of Medicine; L.W. Moreland, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Medicine; S.L. Bridges Jr, MD, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; T.R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Address correspondence to Dr. T. Mikuls, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Omaha VA Medical Center and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA. E-mail: tmikuls@unmc.edu Accepted for publication May 3, 2013.

From the Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, Kansas; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Pittsburgh, Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Mr. Davis was supported by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Enhanced Medical Education Tract. Dr. Mikuls was supported by the Nebraska Arthritis Outcomes Research Center, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (VA Merit). The CLEAR Registry (Primary investigator, Dr. Bridges) is also supported by the US National Institutes of Health grant 2P60 AR048095 UAB Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center. M.L.R. Davis, MPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; K. Michaud, PhD, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center, and National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases; H. Sayles, MS, Department of Biostatistics, VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; D.L. Conn, MD, Emory University School of Medicine; L.W. Moreland, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Medicine; S.L. Bridges Jr, MD, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; T.R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Address correspondence to Dr. T. Mikuls, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Omaha VA Medical Center and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA. E-mail: tmikuls@unmc.edu Accepted for publication May 3, 2013.

From the Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, Kansas; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Pittsburgh, Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Mr. Davis was supported by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Enhanced Medical Education Tract. Dr. Mikuls was supported by the Nebraska Arthritis Outcomes Research Center, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (VA Merit). The CLEAR Registry (Primary investigator, Dr. Bridges) is also supported by the US National Institutes of Health grant 2P60 AR048095 UAB Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center. M.L.R. Davis, MPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; K. Michaud, PhD, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center, and National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases; H. Sayles, MS, Department of Biostatistics, VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center; D.L. Conn, MD, Emory University School of Medicine; L.W. Moreland, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Medicine; S.L. Bridges Jr, MD, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; T.R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Omaha VAMC and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Address correspondence to Dr. T. Mikuls, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Omaha VA Medical Center and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA. E-mail: tmikuls@unmc.edu Accepted for publication May 3, 2013.