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Extended report
Greater body mass independently predicts less radiographic progression on X-ray and MRI over 1–2 years
  1. Joshua F Baker1,2,3,
  2. Mikkel Østergaard4,5,
  3. Michael George2,
  4. Justine Shults3,
  5. Paul Emery6,7,
  6. Daniel G Baker8,
  7. Philip G Conaghan6,7
  1. 1Division of Rheumatology, Philadelphia Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
  2. 2Division of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
  3. 3Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
  4. 4Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Glostrup Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
  5. 5Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  6. 6Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
  7. 7NIHR Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK
  8. 8Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Joshua F Baker, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, 8 Penn Tower Building, 34th and Civic Center Blvd., Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; bakerjo{at}uphs.upenn.edu

Abstract

Introduction Greater body mass index (BMI) has been associated with less radiographic progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the association between BMI and joint damage progression as measured by X-ray and MRI.

Methods 1068 subjects with RA from two clinical trials of golimumab (GO-BEFORE and GO-FORWARD) had radiographs performed at weeks 0, 52 and 104 and evaluated using the van der Heijde–Sharp (vdHS) scoring system. Contrast-enhanced MRIs of the dominant wrist and hand were obtained at weeks 0, 12, 24, 52 and 104. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the risk of radiographic progression for each BMI category (<25, 25–30, >30 kg/m2). Within GO-BEFORE, piecewise, robust generalised estimating equations marginal models assessed the probability of MRI erosion progression for each BMI category. Multivariable linear regression models assessed baseline associations between BMI and bone oedema (a precursor of bone erosion).

Results Higher BMI category was associated with a lower probability of progression in vdHS score at weeks 52 and 104 independent of potential confounders. Higher BMI was also independently associated with a lower probability of progression in MRI erosion score over 2 years. Subjects with greater BMI demonstrated less bone oedema independent of differences in other disease severity measures, including MRI synovitis in the same joints.

Conclusions Greater BMI is associated with a lower risk of progression on X-ray and MRI over 2 years. Subjects with greater BMI also demonstrate less bone oedema at baseline. Greater BMI may indicate a less aggressive RA phenotype and aid in risk stratification.

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Epidemiology

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