BackgroundPatients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are at higher risk for developing cardiovascular comorbidities. While aortic valve and conduction defects are most common, increased levels of LDL cholesterol are also seen. Statin usage has been reported to lower CRP and ESR though the power of these studies are limited due to small sample size and short-term follow-up (1,2).ObjectivesThis study examines associations of statin usage with socio-demographic and clinical factors, including disease activity, functional impairment, and radiographic severity in patients with two years of follow-up or more.Methods655 AS patients meeting modified New York criteria followed at least 2 years (and up to 12 years) were included in the analysis. Demographic and clinical parameters (disease activity and functional impairment were collected every 6 months, as well as radiographic assessments (BASRI and mSASSS) every 2 years. Univariable and multivariable mixed effect models were developed to identify independent factors associated with statin usage over time.ResultsMean disease duration was 18 years (SD=13). 10% (n=66) of the cohort were using statins. Univariable longitudinal regression models are shown below:Factors associated with statin usage based on a univariable longitudinal analysisVariableOR95% CIP-valueMale gender2.7(1.4,5.4)0.004White3.8(1.7,8.6)0.001Marital status: married3.3(1.9, 6.0)<0.001Disease duration >20 years15.8(8.6, 28.7)<0.001Age >40 years5.5(2.3,13.3)<0.001History of hip involvement0.4(0.3, 0.8)0.004History of cardiovascular comorbidity13.7(7.7,24.4)<0.001History of diabetes4.7(1.4,15.4)0.01History of smoking2.2(1.2,3.8)0.01History of hypertension9.9(5.4,17.4)<0.001Concomitant use of NSAID's0.4(0.2,0.8)0.01Concomitant use of TNF-blockers1.0(0.6,1.5)0.96Radiographic severity (mSASSS >4)3.8(2.1,6.7)<0.001Radiographic severity (BASRI >6)2.6(1.6,4.4)0.001Impaired functionality (BASFI >4)1.6(1.1,2.5)0.03Disease activity (BASDAI >4)0.6(0.3,0.9)0.04Elevated CRP0.7(0.5,0.9)0.03Elevated ESR1.1(0.7,1.5)0.76Multivariable longitudinal analyses controlling for confounders showed independent associations of age >40 years (p<0.001, OR=5.5 (2.3, 13.3)), the presence of cardiovascular disease (p<0.001, OR=7.6 (3.8, 15.5)), diabetes (p=0.01, OR=4.7 (1.4, 15.4)), opiate use (p=0.03, OR=2.0 (1.1, 3.7)), and CRP (p=0.03, OR=0.4 (0.2, 0.9)).ConclusionsStatin usage was, as expected, more likely in those of older age with greater disease duration and greater radiographic severity. Even though statins are known to reduce CRP, the association with markers of lower disease activity, both subjective (BASDAI on univariable analysis) and objective (CRP on both univariable and multivariable analyses), raises the possibility of a role in suppressing inflammation in patients with AS.ReferencesHeinemann S and Daemen M. Cardiovascular risks in spondyloarthropaties. Curt Opin Rheumatol. 2007 19:358–362.Denderen JC, Peters MJL, van Halm VP, van de Horst-Bruinsma, Dijkmans BAC, Nurmohamed MT. Statin therapy might be beneficial for patients ...
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