ACR: Higher BMI Linked to Worse Flare Symptoms in Early RA

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Nov. 21, 2023 -- For patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with worse flare symptoms, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, held from Nov. 10 to 15 in San Diego.

Margaret Butler, from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, and colleagues recruited participants with two or more swollen joints and early/recent-onset RA at two centers to examine the impact of elevated BMI on the severity of RA flare symptoms and quality of life (QOL). At each visit, baseline characteristics and patient-reported outcomes were recorded. The OMERACT RA-Flare Questionnaire (RA-FQ) was used to determine flares. Data were included for 134 participants; 46 percent had overweight or obesity.

The researchers found that higher Evaluator Global Assessment (EGA) scores and elevated BMI were significant predictors of higher RA-FQ scores (β = 2.3 and 0.38, respectively); EGA was significantly associated with all five RA-FQ subscores, and BMI was significantly associated with four subscores. Compared with those in the healthy-weight and overweight categories, in patients with obesity, there was an amplified impact of elevated BMI on RA-FQ scores. An inverse association was seen for age with the total RA-FQ score and function subscore (β = −0.11 and −0.03, respectively).

"Our key finding was that there was a linear relationship between having a higher BMI and having a higher RA-FQ score," Butler said in a statement. "Having a higher BMI also predicted worse scores in each of the five individual categories except physical function."

Press Release

More Information

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2023-11-22 02:51

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords