Obesity Increases Disease Activity of Norwegian Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results from the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis Survey

Overview

Journal Curr Rheumatol Rep

Publisher Current Science

Specialty Rheumatology

Date 2020 Jun 25

PMID 32577833

Citations 10

Authors

Christian Bindesboll

Marco Garrido-Cumbrera

Gunnstein Bakland

Hanne Dagfinrud

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity, as well as the association between body mass index (BMI) and disease activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Norwegian axSpA patients from the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) survey were included in this analysis. Sociodemographic, anthropomorphic, and disease-related variables (HLA-B27, comorbidities, BASDAI, and self-reported spinal stiffness) were reported. Patients were categorized into under/normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m), overweight (BMI ≥ 25 to < 30 kg/m), and obese (≥ 30 kg/m).

Results: Of the 509 participants in the EMAS survey, 35% were categorized as under/normal weight, 39% overweight, and 26% obese. Compared to under/normal-weight patients, overweight patients had significantly higher degree of spinal stiffness (mean (SD) 7.91 ± 2.02 vs 7.48 (2.15) and number of comorbidities (2.45 ± 2.11, vs 1.94), both p < 0.001. Obese patients had significantly higher disease activity (BASDAI mean (SD) 5.87 ± 1.78 vs 4.99 ± 2.08, p < 0.001), degree of spinal stiffness (8.18 ± 2.03 vs 7.48 ± 2.15, p = 0.006), and number of comorbidities (3.43 ± 2.43 vs 1.94. ± .38, p < 0.001) than under/normal weight patients. After adjusting for gender and age, obesity proved to be independently associated with disease activity.

Conclusion: Obesity was associated with higher reported BASDAI score, and being overweight or obese was associated with a higher degree of spinal stiffness and number of comorbidities compared to under/normal weight respondents. The results highlight the serious impact of obesity on health status, and obesity should therefore be considered as a modifiable risk factor for disease activity within the disease management of axSpA.

Citing Articles

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Corrado A, Guadagni I, Picarelli G, Variola A Immun Inflamm Dis. 2025; 13(1):e70080.

PMID: 39760506 PMC: 11702394. DOI: 10.1002/iid3.70080.

Do the Activity Indices Used in Axial Spondyloarthritis Capture the Relationships Between Obesity, Smoking and Disease Activity in the Same Way?.

Queiro R, Alonso-Castro S, Brana I, Loredo M, Pardo E, Burger S J Clin Med. 2024; 13(22).

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Patient journey, disease burden, and functional disability in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in South Africa: results of International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS).

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International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS): results from the perspective of 5557 patients from 27 countries around the globe.

Garrido-Cumbrera M, Poddubnyy D, Sommerfleck F, Bundy C, Makri S, Correa-Fernandez J RMD Open. 2024; 10(2).

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Iyer P, Hwang M, Ridley L, Weisman M RMD Open. 2023; 9(4).

PMID: 37949613 PMC: 10649803. DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003372.

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