Associations Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Arterial Stiffness in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Cross-sectional Study

Inger Jorid Berg; Anne Grete Semb; Silje H Sveaas; Camilla Fongen; Désirée van der Heijde; Tore K Kvien; Hanne Dagfinrud; Sella A Provan

doi:10.3899/jrheum.170726

Associations Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Arterial Stiffness in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Cross-sectional Study

J Rheumatol. 2018 Nov;45(11):1522-1525. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.170726. Epub 2018 Jul 1.

Authors

Inger Jorid Berg^{1

2}, Anne Grete Semb^{3

4}, Silje H Sveaas^{3

4}, Camilla Fongen^{3

4}, Désirée van der Heijde^{3

4}, Tore K Kvien^{3

4}, Hanne Dagfinrud^{3

4}, Sella A Provan^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ From the Department of Rheumatology, and the Preventive Cardio-Rheuma Clinic, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; the Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. ingerjoridberg@gmail.com.
² I.J. Berg, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; S.H. Sveaas, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; C. Fongen, MSc, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; H. Dagfinrud, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD, Preventive Cardio-Rheuma Clinic, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center. ingerjoridberg@gmail.com.
³ From the Department of Rheumatology, and the Preventive Cardio-Rheuma Clinic, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; the Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
⁴ I.J. Berg, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; S.H. Sveaas, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; C. Fongen, MSc, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; H. Dagfinrud, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD, Preventive Cardio-Rheuma Clinic, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center.

PMID: 29961684
DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.170726

Abstract

Objective: To assess associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), measured as peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, measured by arterial stiffness, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: VO₂peak was assessed by a maximal walking test on a treadmill. Arterial stiffness was measured noninvasively (Sphygmocor apparatus). Cross-sectional associations between VO₂peak and arterial stiffness were analyzed using backward multivariable linear regression.

Results: Among 118 participating patients, there were significant inverse associations between VO₂peak and arterial stiffness, independent of traditional CVD risk factors and measures of disease activity.

Conclusion: Reduced CRF may be related to increased risk of CVD in AS.

Keywords: ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS; ARTERIAL STIFFNESS; CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cardiorespiratory Fitness / physiology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise Test
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pulse Wave Analysis
Spondylitis, Ankylosing / physiopathology*
Vascular Stiffness / physiology*