title: Association between arterial stiffness, disease activity and functional impairment in ankylosing spondylitis patients: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Cardiovascular risk is an important factor for increased morbidity and mortality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The aim of this study is to assess arterial stiffness in relation to the disease activity and functional limitation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Twenty-four patients (mean age 45.8 ± 11.7 years) suffering of ankylosing spondylitis (disease duration 11.1 ± 5.1 years) and 24 gender and age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Clinical, biological, and functional status of ankylosing spondylitis patients was recorded. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse wave analysis (PWA) was performed using applanation tonometry. We found significant differences between ankylosing spondylitis patients and healthy controls in regard to PWV (p = 0.047), aortic augmentation pressure-AP (p = 0.028), augmentation index-AIx (p = 0.038) and aortic augmentation index adjusted for heart rate-AIx75 (p = 0.011). PWV and AIx75 were significantly associated with the disease functioning score-BASFI (p = 0.012, r = 0.504; p = 0.041, r = 0.421). Aortic AP and augmentation indexes (AIx and AIx75) were all associated to ASDAS score (p = 0.028, r = 0.448; p = 0.005, r = 0.549; p = 0.025, r = 0.455). Our study showed that ankylosing spondylitis patients have a higher arterial stiffness than the age-matched controls, leading to an increased cardiovascular risk. We found that arterial stiffness is positively associated with disease activity and functional impairment. Chronic spondiloarthropaties should be screened for arterial stiffness, even in the absence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, in order to benefit from primary prevention measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Special Motricity, West University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Claudiu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avram
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rheumatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. dragoi.razvan@umft.ro.
authors.forename: Răzvan Gabriel
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Drăgoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures, Targu Mures, Romania.
authors.forename: Horațiu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Popoviciu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rheumatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drăgoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avram
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rheumatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amaricăi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis; Arterial stiffness; Cardiovascular risk; Disease activity; Functional impairment