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Law L, Lindqvist P, Liv P, Hellman U, Lejon K, Geijer M, Söderberg S, Forsblad-d'Elia H. Increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis compared to controls and associations with markers of inflammation. Clin Rheumatol 2024; 43:1559-1570. [PMID: 38443604 PMCID: PMC11018678 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-024-06913-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA). In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to, overall and stratified by sex, (i) compare ultrasound derived carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), between patients and controls, and (ii) investigate associations between cIMT, clinical disease activity and inflammation-related laboratory markers in patients with r-axSpA. METHOD In total, 155 patients diagnosed with r-axSpA using the modified New York criteria and 400 controls were included. Bilateral carotid ultrasound, laboratory testing, and questionaries were acquired. Disease-specific assessments were carried out for patients. Linear regression analysis was used to assess associations. RESULTS Linear regression analyses showed that patients with r-axSpA had increased mean cIMT compared to controls (mean ± SD, 0.8 ± 0.1 mm vs 0.7± 0.1 mm, respectively, unstandardized β (95% CI) -0.076 (-0.10, -0.052), P < 0.001) adjusted for smoking status and age. Linear regression analyses for patients with r-axSpA showed that only males presented significant associations between cIMT and inflammation-related laboratory markers, white blood cell (WBC) count (mean ± SD, 6.8 ± 1.6 109/L) and monocytes (0.6 ± 0.2 109/L); WBC count (unstandardized β (95% CI) 0.019 (0.0065, 0.031), P = 0.003, R2 = 0.57) and monocytes (0.13 (0.0047, 0.26), P = 0.041, R2 = 0.55), adjusted for age, smoking status, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, ASDAS-CRP, and treatment with DMARDs and glucocorticoids. No significant association was found between cIMT and clinical disease activity assessed by ASDAS-CRP. CONCLUSION Patients with r-axSpA had significantly increased cIMT compared to controls. In male patients, higher WBC and monocyte count were associated with an increase in cIMT suggesting the role of inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis. Key Points •Carotid intima-media thickness was increased in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis compared to controls. •White blood cell and monocyte counts were associated with carotid intima-media thickness in male patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Law
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Per Lindqvist
- Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Clinical Physiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Per Liv
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Urban Hellman
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kristina Lejon
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mats Geijer
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stefan Söderberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Helena Forsblad-d'Elia
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Hallström M, Klingberg E, Deminger A, Rehnman JB, Geijer M, Forsblad-d'Elia H. Physical function and sex differences in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: a cross-sectional analysis on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:182. [PMID: 37749599 PMCID: PMC10521572 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03173-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical function is an important determinant of health-related quality of life in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients (r-axSpA). To improve the basis of effective healthcare efforts, we aimed to investigate which demographic and disease-related factors that influence Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) in r-axSpA patients overall and stratified by sex. Furthermore, we sought to explore differences between sexes regarding separate BASFI questions and also to explore which factors that may contribute to these differences. METHODS This observational cross-sectional study included patients fulfilling the modified New York criteria for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Patients were assessed with 66/68 joint count and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) measurements. Lateral X-rays were performed for Modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-C-Reactive Protein (CRP), and BASFI were registered. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to investigate which factors that associate with BASFI. RESULTS A total of 353 r-axSpA patients were included, mean age 52.2 ± 12.7 years, 62.3% males. No significant sex difference was seen in BASFI scores (2.7 ± 2.0 in males vs 2.9 ± 2.1 in females). Age, body mass index, ASDAS-CRP, BASMI or mSASSS, fatigue, and tenderness were found to associate independently with BASFI in different models (R2 0.53-0.63). Investigation of separate BASFI questions revealed that the ability to look over shoulder was worse in males than females (mean 4.43 ± 3.37 vs 3.74 ± 3.06, p = 0.05) and most strongly correlated with mSASSS and BASMI among separate BASFI questions (r = 0.53, p < 0.001; r = 0.62, p < 0.001). The ability to climb stairs was worse in females than males (mean 2.49 ± 2.77 vs 1.54 ± 2.32, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS No difference between male and female r-axSpA patients was seen in BASFI despite significant sex differences in BASMI, mSASSS, and CRP levels. Our results underline the impact of fatigue and tenderness on BASFI. The ability to climb stairs without a handrail was scored worse among females compared to males. Furthermore, the ability to look over the shoulder was worse in males than females and closely related to spinal mobility and structural spinal changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Hallström
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 480, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Rheumatology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Eva Klingberg
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 480, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Deminger
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 480, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeannette Beckman Rehnman
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mats Geijer
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Helena Forsblad-d'Elia
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 480, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Hulander E, Zverkova Sandström T, Beckman Rehnman J, Law L, Söderberg S, Forsblad-d'Elia H. Patients with radiographic axial spondylarthritis have an impaired dietary intake-a cross-sectional study with matched controls from northern Sweden. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:142. [PMID: 37550771 PMCID: PMC10405516 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03126-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, affecting about 0.2% of the Swedish population. Adequate nutritional intake is essential for maintaining physiological functions. A poor diet increases the risk of developing conditions such as obesity, osteoporosis, and/or atherosclerosis. Diet quality is also theorized to affect systemic inflammation. Dietary habits in patients with r-axSpA are largely unknown. The aims of this study were to assess dietary nutrient intake in r-axSpA patients and examine whether it differs compared to persons without r-axSpA. METHODS r-axSpA patients (modified NY criteria) at the rheumatology clinic in Region Västerbotten, northern Sweden, were invited to take part in the Backbone study which investigates disease severity and comorbidities. In total, 155 patients were included. Nutritional intake was assessed by the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire MiniMeal-Q. Controls were collected from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (n = 30,154), a study that invited participants 50-64 years of age by random selection from the Swedish population register. Out of the 155 r-axSpA patients, 81 were in the same age span. Four controls were identified for each patient, matched on age (± 1 year), sex, and geographic location. Data on dietary intake was available for 319 controls. Statistical comparisons of dietary intake between patients with r-axSpA and controls were done by exact conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted for country of birth, educational level, single household, weight, smoking status, and energy intake. RESULTS Patients had a comparatively significantly higher energy intake from carbohydrates, a lower fiber density, and a lower intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, intake of vitamins D, E, and K as well as selenium, folate, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, and β-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A and marker of vegetable and fruit intake) was significantly lower among patients compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that r-axSpA patients have an impaired dietary intake. Notably, intake was lower in several nutrients theorized to have anti-inflammatory properties (fiber density, marine-omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and selenium). We further propose that nutrition screening might be incorporated into the management of r-axSpA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Hulander
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 480, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Nutrition Unit, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Tatiana Zverkova Sandström
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 480, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Lucy Law
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Stefan Söderberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Helena Forsblad-d'Elia
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 480, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Lejon K, Hellman U, Do L, Kumar A, Forsblad-d'Elia H. Increased proportions of inflammatory T cells and their correlations with cytokines and clinical parameters in patients with ankylosing spondylitis from northern Sweden. Scand J Immunol 2022; 96:e13190. [PMID: 35506752 PMCID: PMC9539637 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune disease affecting parts of the skeletal structure in particular. Previously increased levels of the inflammatory cell types Th17, Th22, Tc17 and Tc22 cells have been shown to be associated with AS. Here, we analysed the levels of inflammatory T cell subsets, related cytokines and clinical characteristics of AS patients vs controls from northern Sweden. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 50 AS patients and 50 matched controls were short term stimulated with PMA/Ionomycin, stained and analysed by flow cytometry. Plasma levels of Interleukin (IL)‐17, IL‐22, IL‐10 as well as clinically relevant markers were determined. Compared to male controls, male AS patients showed 1.5‐ to 2‐fold increases of Th17 (P = .013), Th22 (P = .003) and Tc22 (P = .024) among CD45+CD3+ lymphocytes. Plasma IL‐22 levels correlated with the Tc17 proportion in male patients (Rs = 0.499, P = .003) and plasma IL‐10 levels were inversely correlated with Tc17 among all patients (Rs = −0.276, P = .05). Male patients with syndesmophytes showed significantly higher Th17 proportions (P = .038). In female AS patients, Tc22 was negatively correlated with C‐reactive protein (high sensitivity) (hsCRP) (Rs = −0.573, P = .016). We confirmed increased proportions of inflammatory T cells and correlations with relevant cytokines from male AS patients. The correlation between Th17 and syndesmophytes supports a role of Th17 in the pathogenic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Lejon
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Division of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Urban Hellman
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Division of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lan Do
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Division of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anjani Kumar
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Division of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Helena Forsblad-d'Elia
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Division of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Wiginder A, Sahlin-Ingridsson C, Geijer M, Blomberg A, Franklin KA, Forsblad-d'Elia H. Prevalence and factors related to sleep apnoea in ankylosing spondylitis. Clin Rheumatol 2021; 41:491-498. [PMID: 34581892 PMCID: PMC8782774 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-021-05924-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
An increased prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been suggested in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a few controlled studies. We aimed to study the prevalence of OSA compared to controls and to investigate if disease-related and non-disease-related factors were determinants of OSA in AS patients. One hundred and fifty-five patients with AS were included in the Backbone study, a cross-sectional study that investigates severity and comorbidities in AS. Controls were recruited from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study. To evaluate OSA, the participants were asked to undergo home sleep-monitoring during one night’s sleep. For each AS patient 45–70 years old, four controls were matched for sex, age, weight, and height. OSA was defined as an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) ≥ 5 events/hour. Sixty-three patients with AS were examined with home sleep-monitoring, and 179 controls were matched with 46 patients, 45–70 years. Twenty-two out of 46 (47.8%) patients with AS vs. 91/179 (50.8%) controls had OSA (AHI ≥ 5 events/hour), P = 0.72. No differences in the sleep measurements were noted in AS patients vs. controls. In logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex, higher age, higher BMI, and lesser chest expansion were associated with the presence of OSA in the 63 AS patients. In the current study, patients with AS did not have a higher prevalence of OSA compared to matched controls. AS patients with OSA had higher BMI, were older, and had lesser chest expansion because of more severe AS compared to patients without OSA.
Key points |
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• Patients with ankylosing spondylitis did not have a higher prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea versus matched controls. | • Patients with ankylosing spondylitis and obstructive sleep apnoea were older and had higher body mass index versus patients without obstructive sleep apnoea. | • Patients with ankylosing spondylitis and obstructive sleep apnoea had lesser chest expansion versus patients without obstructive sleep apnoea. |
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Wiginder
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Carin Sahlin-Ingridsson
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mats Geijer
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Blomberg
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Karl A Franklin
- Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Surgery, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Helena Forsblad-d'Elia
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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