Obesity is overrepresented in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and associated with increased disease activity. We have previously shown in 41 patients with PsA (Caspar criteria) and obesity (body mass index; BMI ≥33 kg/m
The patients were assessed with 66/68 joints count, Leeds enthesitis index (LEI), body surface area, blood pressure, BMI, questionnaires and fasting blood samples at the 12- and 24-month visits.
In total, 39 and 35 PsA patients attended the 12- and the 24-month visits, respectively. Median weight loss since baseline was 16.0% (IQR 10.5-22.4) and 7.4% (IQR 5.1-14.0) at the 12- and 24-months follow-up. The 66/68 swollen/tender joints score, LEI, CRP and HAQ score were still significantly reduced at the 12- and 24-month visits compared to baseline. The number of patients with Minimal Disease Activity increased from 28.2% (11/39) at baseline, to 38.5% (15/39; p = 0.008) and 45.7% (16/35; p = 0.016) at the 12- and 24-month visits. The weight loss was also associated with improved levels of serum lipids, glucose and urate and the antihypertensive treatment was reduced or stopped in five patients during the follow-up.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02917434 , Registered September 28, 2016- Retrospectively registered.
Weight loss treatment, with VLED included in the program, was associated with long-term improvement of measures of disease activity, self-reported function and markers of the metabolic syndrome after 24-months follow-up.