title: CRP and ASDAS are associated with future elevated arterial stiffness, a risk marker of cardiovascular disease, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: results after 5-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with elevated arterial stiffness in a 5-year follow-up of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI) and AS disease activity score (ASDAS) were recorded in 2003, and arterial stiffness (Augmentation Index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV)) in 2008/2009. Patients were grouped into quartiles according to baseline CRP, ESR and BASDAI and four ASDAS groups. Trend analyses were performed using ANCOVA (AIx/PWV as dependent variable) with separate models for CRP, ESR, BASDAI and ASDAS (age and gender adjusted). Independent predictors of future AIx and PWV levels were identified in multivariate linear regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 85 patients participated. Increasing baseline values of CRP, ESR and ASDAS were associated with elevated AIx on follow-up (p(trend) 0.01, 0.05 and 0.04, respectively). Similar non-significant patterns were seen for PWV. In the multivariate analyses, baseline CRP and ASDAS were independently associated with future elevated AIx (p=0.03 and0.02, respectively). In the multivariate PWV model, results for CRP and ASDAS were non-significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baseline CRP and ASDAS were associated with future elevated arterial stiffness measured as AIx, supporting that disease activity is related to future risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with AS.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Inger Jorid
authors: IJ
authors: Berg
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Preventive Cardio-Rheuma clinic, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Anne Grete
authors: AG
authors: Semb
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Désirée
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5781-158X
authors: D
authors: van der Heijde
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Tore K
authors: TK
authors: Kvien
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Inge C
authors: IC
authors: Olsen
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Hanne
authors: H
authors: Dagfinrud
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Sella A
authors: SA
authors: Provan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Ankylosing Spondylitis; Cardiovascular Disease; Disease Activity