Known and less well-known comorbidities in axial spondyloarthritis : what are we overlooking? Results from the SPARTAKUS cohort
Sagard, J LU
; Mogard, E
LU
; Lindqvist, E
LU
; Jöud, A S
LU
; Geijer, M
LU
; Wallman, J K
LU
and Olofsson, T
LU
(2025)
In Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
- Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To explore and compare the prevalences of a wide range of comorbidities in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) versus the general population, and in non-radiographic versus radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA/r-axSpA).
METHOD: Well-characterized axSpA patients (n = 246) from the SPARTAKUS cohort (55% men; mean age/disease duration 52/26 years; nr-axSpA/r-axSpA = 82/164) were included, and matched to comparators from the general population (five/patient) randomly drawn from the Swedish Population Register. Fifty-nine comorbidities were determined from ICD-10 diagnosis registrations in primary/specialized care, with data retrieved for the 10 year period preceding SPARTAKUS inclusion (for patients/their respective comparators).... (More)
OBJECTIVES: To explore and compare the prevalences of a wide range of comorbidities in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) versus the general population, and in non-radiographic versus radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA/r-axSpA).
METHOD: Well-characterized axSpA patients (n = 246) from the SPARTAKUS cohort (55% men; mean age/disease duration 52/26 years; nr-axSpA/r-axSpA = 82/164) were included, and matched to comparators from the general population (five/patient) randomly drawn from the Swedish Population Register. Fifty-nine comorbidities were determined from ICD-10 diagnosis registrations in primary/specialized care, with data retrieved for the 10 year period preceding SPARTAKUS inclusion (for patients/their respective comparators). Differences in comorbidity prevalences were analyzed using logistic regression and controlled for multiple comparisons.
RESULTS: Most investigated comorbidities were numerically overrepresented in axSpA versus comparators with significantly higher prevalences of known extra-musculoskeletal manifestations [anterior uveitis (28% vs 1%), IBD (10%/1%), psoriasis (10%/3%)], and ischaemic heart disease (7%/3%), along with less explored conditions such as fibromyalgia/chronic pain (12%/3%) and nephrolithiasis (8%/3%). Patients displayed significantly higher proportions of well-known side-effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [gastritis (21%/10%), hypertension (31%/19%)] and glucocorticoids [cataract (11%/7%), glaucoma (7%/3%), osteoporosis/vertebral compression (4%/1%)]. No significant between-group difference (patients/comparators) was observed for Charlson Comorbidity Index (assessing short-term mortality risk) when excluding rheumatic disease. Moreover, no significant difference in comorbidity was found between nr-axSpA and r-axSpA.
CONCLUSION: axSpA is linked to several comorbidities, whereas no difference was observed between nr-axSpA and r-axSpA. Potential causes of enhanced comorbidity include long-standing inflammation and therapy side-effects (including from NSAIDs/glucocorticoids), both to be considered when aiming to optimize axSpA treatment.
(Less)
- author
- Sagard, J
LU
; Mogard, E
LU
; Lindqvist, E
LU
; Jöud, A S
LU
; Geijer, M
LU
; Wallman, J K
LU
and Olofsson, T
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-09-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:40888091
- ISSN
- 1502-7732
- DOI
- 10.1080/03009742.2025.2525635
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 938c4b76-6e0a-471c-9daf-04b2bdecdff4
- date added to LUP
- 2025-09-02 14:22:50
- date last changed
- 2025-09-02 14:22:50
@article{938c4b76-6e0a-471c-9daf-04b2bdecdff4,
abstract = {{<p>OBJECTIVES: To explore and compare the prevalences of a wide range of comorbidities in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) versus the general population, and in non-radiographic versus radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA/r-axSpA).</p><p>METHOD: Well-characterized axSpA patients (n = 246) from the SPARTAKUS cohort (55% men; mean age/disease duration 52/26 years; nr-axSpA/r-axSpA = 82/164) were included, and matched to comparators from the general population (five/patient) randomly drawn from the Swedish Population Register. Fifty-nine comorbidities were determined from ICD-10 diagnosis registrations in primary/specialized care, with data retrieved for the 10 year period preceding SPARTAKUS inclusion (for patients/their respective comparators). Differences in comorbidity prevalences were analyzed using logistic regression and controlled for multiple comparisons.</p><p>RESULTS: Most investigated comorbidities were numerically overrepresented in axSpA versus comparators with significantly higher prevalences of known extra-musculoskeletal manifestations [anterior uveitis (28% vs 1%), IBD (10%/1%), psoriasis (10%/3%)], and ischaemic heart disease (7%/3%), along with less explored conditions such as fibromyalgia/chronic pain (12%/3%) and nephrolithiasis (8%/3%). Patients displayed significantly higher proportions of well-known side-effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [gastritis (21%/10%), hypertension (31%/19%)] and glucocorticoids [cataract (11%/7%), glaucoma (7%/3%), osteoporosis/vertebral compression (4%/1%)]. No significant between-group difference (patients/comparators) was observed for Charlson Comorbidity Index (assessing short-term mortality risk) when excluding rheumatic disease. Moreover, no significant difference in comorbidity was found between nr-axSpA and r-axSpA.</p><p>CONCLUSION: axSpA is linked to several comorbidities, whereas no difference was observed between nr-axSpA and r-axSpA. Potential causes of enhanced comorbidity include long-standing inflammation and therapy side-effects (including from NSAIDs/glucocorticoids), both to be considered when aiming to optimize axSpA treatment.</p>}},
author = {{Sagard, J and Mogard, E and Lindqvist, E and Jöud, A S and Geijer, M and Wallman, J K and Olofsson, T}},
issn = {{1502-7732}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology}},
title = {{Known and less well-known comorbidities in axial spondyloarthritis : what are we overlooking? Results from the SPARTAKUS cohort}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03009742.2025.2525635}},
doi = {{10.1080/03009742.2025.2525635}},
year = {{2025}},
}