Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with elevated cardiovascular (CV) risk and obesity is a common, modifiable risk factor. Our aims were 1) to assess the relationship of BMI with disease activity in AS patients, and 2) to assess the extent to which the effect is mediated through exercise.
We used data from a prospective AS cohort with a median follow-up of 7 years. To determine the association of BMI (kg/m
There were 183 subjects with available BMI and disease activity data (77% male, 70% white, mean age 40.8 ± 13.3 years). Higher BMI was significantly associated with higher disease activity over time; on average, for a 1 kg/m
Higher BMI was associated with higher disease activity in a prospective AS cohort. We found that being overweight/obese largely influenced disease activity directly, rather than indirectly through exercise. Other mechanisms such as increased inflammation may better explain the obesity-disease activity association.