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Smoking linked with accelerated disease progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

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MADRID — Smoking was associated with accelerated disease progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, according to findings presented at the EULAR Annual Congress.

“Smoking constitutes a major risk factor not only for disease susceptibility, but also disease severity in patients with [ankylosing spondylitis] AS,” Servet Akar, MD, from Izmir Katip Celebi University in Turkey, said in a press release.

Researchers performed a systematic review of eight cross-sectional studies. They found a significant association between smoking and cumulative spinal structural damage (odds ratio = 2.02). However, investigators found no significant heterogeneity between studies.

“Rheumatologists should work hard to encourage their AS patients to quit smoking as this could have a major impact on future quality of life,” Akar said in the release.

References:

Akar S, et al. Abstract #OP0120. Presented at: EULAR Annual Congress; June 14-17, 2017; Madrid.

www.eular.org

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.