High BMI Increases Arthritis Risk Save

Obesity carries many risks, now a new study in Arthritis & Rheumatology shows that higher body mass index (BMI) increases the risk for several rheumatic diseases, especially in women for both gout and psoriatic arthropathy. 

The association between BMI and the risk of rheumatic diseases and sex-specific effects were assessed using data from the UK Biobank cohort (n=in 361,952 participants), that included patients with rheumatoid arthritis (N=8,381 cases), osteoarthritis (N=87,430), psoriatic arthropathy (N=933), gout (N=13,638), and inflammatory spondylitis (N=4,328).

A higher BMI of one standard deviation increased the incidence rate for: 

• rheumatoid arthritis (IRR=1.52; 95% CI=1.36-1.69)
• osteoarthritis (IRR=1.49; 1.43-1.55)
• psoriatic arthropathy (IRR=1.80; 1.31-2.48)
• gout (IRR=1.73; 1.56-1.92)
• inflammatory spondylitis (IRR=1.34; 1.14-1.57)

BMI effects were stronger in women (vs men) with psoriatic arthropathy and gout. Moreorver, the effect on osteoarthritis was stronger in premenopausal compared to postmenopausal women (P=1.8×10-3).

Nonlinear effects of BMI were identified for osteoarthritis and gout in men, and for gout in women. The nonlinearity for gout was also more extreme in men compared to women (P=0.03).

Higher BMI causes an increased risk for rheumatic disease. There are clear implications for disease prevention, but less certain implications regarding future therapy.