Obesity & RA

Objectives To investigate the association of lifestyle factors with risk of inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods The European Prospective Investigation of Cancer, Norfolk, UK (EPIC-Norfolk) gathered lifestyle data from participants aged 40–79 years from 1993 to 1997…
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This, and other studies, suggest an association between obesity and seronegative RA, but not with ACPA-positive RA. Could it be that fat poses difficulty to proper assessment of whether a tender joint is truly swollen/inflamed, resulting in more “benefit-of-doubt” positive diagnoses? Ultrasound would come in handy here to sharpen the clinician’s acumen.


Study finds increased CRP, ESR levels in obese women with RA is related to fat mass rather than disease activity

This study found that severely obese women had significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels than women with a normal body mass index.
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Not recognising this may lead to unnecessary and even harmful over-treatment of obese RA patients.  It is important to assess the disease activity through various outcome measures (clinical and patient-reported), rather than blindly treating lab numbers.


Association of High Body Mass Index With Decreased Treatment Response to Combination Therapy in Recent‐Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

To assess the association between high body mass index (BMI) and treatment response in recent‐onset rheumatoid arthritis.In the Behandelstrategieën voor Reumatoide Artritis (Treatment Strategies for Rheumatoid…
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Obesity and reduction of the response rate to anti–tumor necrosis factor α in rheumatoid arthritis: An approach to a personalized medicine

Gremese, E., Carletto, A., Padovan, M., Atzeni, F.,…
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Weight Loss, the Obesity Paradox, and the Risk of Death in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis & Rheumatology Explore this journal > Explore this journal > Previous article in issue: Apremilast in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Phase II, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study Previous article in issue: Apremilast in Patients Wit…
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Things aren’t great at the other end of the spectrum for RA patients either.  All cause mortality is higher in those who suffer weight loss and sarcopaenia, probably reflective of heightened chronic inflammation and inadequate disease control.