Table 1.
Clinical characteristics for patients with ankylosing spondylitis participating in the study (n = 210)
| Age (years) |
49 (13) |
| Men/Women |
120/90 |
| BMI |
26.0 (4.5) |
| Smoker ≥ 6 months |
105 (50%) |
| Rheumatologic characteristics | |
| Age at symptom onset (years) |
26 (10) |
| Symptom duration (years) |
24 (13) |
| Diagnostic age (years) |
36 (11) |
| Diagnostic duration (years) |
14 (11) |
| BASDAI (score) |
3.6 (2.1) |
| BASFI (score) |
2.7 (2.1) |
| BASMI (score) |
3.1 (1.6) |
| Blood tests | |
| HLA B27 n (%) |
183* (87) |
| Hemoglobin (g/L) |
139 (13) |
| White blood cell count (×109/L) |
7.0 (2.2) |
| Platelet count (×109/L) |
298 (75) |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h) |
15 (14) |
| C-reactive protein (mg/L) |
8.4 (10.2) |
| Concomitant diseases | |
| Diabetes mellitus |
6 (2.9) |
| Hyperlipidemia |
17 (8.1) |
| Hypertension |
56 (27) |
| Other cardiovascular diseases¶ |
26 (12) |
| Coronary artery disease |
6 (2.9) |
| Heart failure |
4 (1.9) |
| Valvular disease |
6 (2.9) |
| Arrhythmia |
4 (1.9) |
| Various not specified/ |
10 (4.8) |
| Stroke |
4 (1.9) |
| Medication | |
| ACEI/ARB |
23 (11) |
| Analgesics |
54 (26) |
| Antiarrhythmic agents |
3 (1.4) |
| Antidiabetic agents |
3 (1.4) |
| Antihypertensive agents |
15 (7.1) |
| ASA |
22 (11) |
| Betablockers |
28 (13) |
| Calcium antagonists |
7 (3.3) |
| Digitalis |
2 (1.0) |
| Diuretics |
15 (7.1) |
| DMARD |
77 (37) |
| Lipid modulators |
15 (7.1) |
| NSAID |
161 (77) |
| TNF inhibitor |
45 (21) |
| Warfarin | 2 (1.0) |
*11 were homozygous.
¶more than one is possible.
Data regarding demographic, clinical and laboratory analyses are presented as mean (SD), while concomitant diseases and medication are presented in numbers (%).
Abbreviations: ACEI angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, ARB angiotensin II receptor blocker, ASA acetylsalicylic acid, BMI body mass index, weight/height2, BASDAI Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, BASFI Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, BASMI Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, DMARD disease modifying antirheumatic drug, NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, TNF tumour necrosis factor.