Who Is at Higher Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Who Is at Higher Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis? (0:39)

A family history of rheumatoid arthritis increases your risk of getting the disease. Women are also more prone. But doctors don't really know who is likely to get the disease, explains W. Hayes Wilson, MD, chief of rheumatology at Piedmont Hospital.

Read Transcript

Well, the people who are at higher risk for rheumatoid arthritis, in general are people who have a family history and most commonly it is the women, because it's more common in women. If your mother or your aunt had rheumatoid arthritis then that gives you a slightly higher chance as well, though there are a lot of variables, but in general family history is the main thing.