Body weight reduces chances of achieving minimal disease activity in people with rheumatic diseases

Weight is a key issue when it comes to achieving minimal disease activity in people with psoriatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, says research in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Experts looked at the impact of obesity and/or being overweight on the achievement of minimal disease activity in people with psoriatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis receiving an anti-rheumatic treatment.

Data from 17 studies involving 6,693 people (1,562 with psoriatic arthritis and 5,131 with rheumatoid arthritis) were included in the analysis.

Findings

– The minimal disease activity achievement rate was significantly lower in obese or overweight people than in those of a normal weight.

– The effect of obesity on minimal disease activity was confirmed when the experts separately analysed data on people with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

– But when they looked at the effect of being overweight, results were confirmed for psoriatic arthritis but not for rheumatoid arthritis.

The authors conclude:

“The results of our meta-analysis suggest that obesity and overweight reduce the chances to achieve minimal disease activity in patients with rheumatic diseases receiving treatment with traditional or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.”

Click here to read the original research.

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