Ankylosing Spondylitis Is Associated with Increased Prevalence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a strong precursor for clinical CVD. The aim of our study was to assess whether having AS was associated with increased prevalence of LV hypertrophy.

METHODS:

Clinical and echocardiographic data from 139 AS patients and 126 age- and sex-matched controls was used. LV mass was calculated according to guidelines and indexed to height2.7. LV hypertrophy was considered present if LV mass index was > 49.2 g/m2.7 in men and > 46.7 g/m2.7 in women.

RESULTS:

Patients with AS were on average 49 ± 12 years old, and 60% were men. The prevalence of hypertension (HTN; 35% vs 41%) and diabetes (5% vs 2%) was similar among patients and controls, while patients with AS had higher serum C-reactive protein level (CRP; p < 0.001). The prevalence of LV hypertrophy was higher in patients with AS compared to controls (15% vs 6%, p = 0.01). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, having AS was associated with OR 6.3 (95% CI 2.1-19.3, p = 0.001) of having LV hypertrophy independent of the presence of HTN, diabetes, and obesity. In multivariable linear regression analyses, having AS was also associated with higher LV mass (β 0.15, p = 0.007) after adjusting for CVD risk factors including sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and serum CRP (multiple R2 = 0.41, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Having AS was associated with increased prevalence of LV hypertrophy independent of CVD risk factors. This finding strengthens the indication for thorough CVD risk assessment in patients with AS.

• Authors: Helga Midtbø, Eva Gerdts, Inger Jorid Berg, Silvia Rollefstad, Roland Jonsson, Anne Grete Semb
• Journal: The Journal of rheumatology (J Rheumatol) Vol. 45 Issue 9 Pg. 1249-1255 (08 2018) ISSN: 0315-162X [Print] Canada
• PMID: 29858235 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Blood Pressure (physiology)
• Body Mass Index
• Comorbidity
• Echocardiography
• Female
• Humans
• Hypertension (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Sex Factors
• Spondylitis, Ankylosing (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, physiopathology)