Table 1.
Demographical, laboratory and cardiovascular disease-related data in healthy controls and patients with axSpA (both AS and nr-axSpA patients).
| Variable | Controls (n = 63) | axSpA (n = 163) | AS (n = 119) | nr-axSpA (n = 44) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men/Women, n | 28/35 | 90/73 | 73/46 | 17/27 |
| Age at study (years), mean ± SD | 50.9 ± 15.3 | 43.7 ± 11.6 | 44.9 ± 11.9 | 40.3 ± 10.3 |
| Age at axSpA diagnosis (years), mean ± SD | — | 37.2 ± 10.4 | 36.7 ± 10.7 | 38.7 ± 9.2 |
| History of classic cardiovascular risk factors, n (%) | ||||
| Current smokers | 12 (19.0) | 47 (28.8) | 39 (32.8) | 8 (18.2) |
| Obesity | 12 (19.0) | 32 (19.6) | 25 (21.0) | 7 (15.9) |
| Dyslipidemia | 13 (20.6) | 33 (20.2) | 25 (21.0) | 8 (18.2) |
| Hypertension | 12 (19.0) | 25 (15.3) | 19 (16.0) | 6 (13.6) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) at study, mean ± SD | 26.8 ± 4.9 | 25.9 ± 4.5 | 26.1 ± 4.6 | 25.2 ± 4.2 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) at study, mean ± SD | 127.4 ± 15.4 | 128.1 ± 15.2 | 129.2 ± 15.0 | 125.2 ± 15.5 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) at study, mean ± SD | 78.2 ± 8.8 | 77.9 ± 10.0 | 78.0 ± 10.3 | 77.8 ± 9.2 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) at study, mean ± SD | 202.2 ± 33.9 | 193.1 ± 35.6 | 194.9 ± 36.1 | 188.0 ± 34.1 |
| HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) at study, mean ± SD | 59.1 ± 16.0 | 55.4 ± 16.4 | 53.8 ± 14.8 | 59.5 ± 19.6 |
| LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) at study, mean ± SD | 122.0 ± 31.8 | 118.2 ± 30.0 | 120.7 ± 31.1 | 111.4 ± 25.8 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) at study, mean ± SD | 94.7 ± 47.7 | 97.5 ± 54.5 | 98.7 ± 54.4 | 94.3 ± 55.3 |
| Atherogenic index (total cholesterol/HDL), mean ± SD | 3.6 ± 1.1 | 3.7 ± 1.0 | 3.8 ± 1.0 | 3.4 ± 0.9 |
| CRP (mg/L) at study, mean ± SD | 2.9 ± 4.4 | 5.7 ± 9.9 | 6.3 ± 10.9 | 4.0 ± 5.8 |
| CRP (mg/L) at axSpA diagnosis, mean ± SD | — | 11.5 ± 23.4 | 14.0 ± 26.6 | 4.9 ± 7.4 |
| ESR (mm/1st hour) at study, mean ± SD | 11.5 ± 4.4 | 11.3 ± 12.4 | 12.3 ± 13.3 | 8.4 ± 8.9 |
| CRP at axSpA diagnosis ≥ 3 mg/L, n (%) | — | 86 (52.8) | 71 (59.7) | 15 (34.1) |
| ESR (mm/1st hour) at axSpA diagnosis, mean ± SD | — | 15.1 ± 17.9 | 17.2 ± 20.2 | 10.3 ± 10.2 |
| BASDAI at study, median [IQ range] | — | 3.80 [1.75–5.50] | 3.70 [1.65–4.95] | 4.40 [2.60–6.10] |
| BASDAI at study, mean ± SD | — | 3.80 ± 2.22 | 3.60 ± 2.17 | 4.35 ± 2.29 |
| Therapy at study | ||||
| Anti-TNF-α treatment, n (%) | — | 49 (30.1) | 43 (36.1) | 6 (13.6) |
| DMARDs, n (%)* | — | 79 (48.5) | 62 (52.1) | 17 (38.6) |
| NSAIDs, n (%)** | — | 158 (96.9) | 114 (95.8) | 44 (100) |
| Statins, n (%) | — | 13/163 (8.0) | 10/119 (8.4) | 3/44 (6.8) |
| Carotid IMT (mm), mean ± SD | — | 0.608 ± 0.131 | 0.622 ± 0.14 | 0.568 ± 0.11 |
| Carotid plaques, n (%) | — | 51 (31.3) | 43 (36.1) | 8 (18.2) |
| CPT (ng/mL) | 102.3 ± 31.2 | 91.4 ± 26.1 | 91.4 ± 26.7 | 91.1 ± 24.9 |
AS: Ankylosing spondylitis; axSpA: Axial spondyloarthritis; BASDAI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; CPT: Calprotectin; CRP: C-Reactive Protein; DMARDs: Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs; ESR: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate; HDL: High Density Lipoprotein; IMT: Intima-Media Thickness; IQ: Interquartile; LDL: Low Density Lipoprotein; nr-axSpA: non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis; NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; SD: Standard Deviation; TNF: Tumour necrosis factor. *Mainly sulphasalazine, median dose: 2 grams/day. **Mainly naproxen, median dose: 1000 milligrams/day.