Background/Purpose: The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommends cardiovascular risk (CV) assessment using the systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE) chart in inflammatory arthritis patients. However, the absolute 10 years CV risk is a statistical and epidemiological concept that could be difficult to understand by our patients, resulting in a lack of adherence to treatment.  The Framinghan heart study (FHS) incorporated the concept of vascular age, as the age of the arteries, a concept more easily understood by all patients. Recently, a calibrated vascular age chart (VAC) according to the SCORE scales was published for european people. 

Objective: To assess vascular age (VA) in psoriatic arthritis (APs) patients without CV risk factors/ previous ischemic events using the VAC comparing it with healthy controls. To assess the correlation of several clinical and serological variables with VA in APs patients. 

Methods: We included 80 consecutive APs patients, according to the CASPAR criteria without CV risk factors neither previous ischemic events and matched to 80 healthy controls according to sex, age and gender. We recorded demographic data, clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity like ESR, CRP, tender and swollen joint counts, DAS28, patient global assessment by visual analogue scale, lipid profile and APs characteristics. We assessed VA using the VAC.  Data was analyzed with the statistical software SPSS 15. Descriptive data were shown as percentages and mean±SD. To analyze data, we use simple lineal regression test with correlation and the multiple lineal regression analysis. The limit of statistical significance was located in the α error of 0,05.

Results: In APs patients, the median chronologic age (CA) was 47,8±12,4 years, VA was 52,48±12,82,  disease duration was 11,09±7,8 and absolute CV risk was 1,99±3,5. Of these patients, 50% were female, 64% had axial and peripheral involvement and  37,5% was HLA-B27 positive. In controls, CA was 47,4±12,2, VA was 49,67±12,67 and absolute CV risk was 1,01±1,7. After applying lineal regression test, VA was correlated with CA (beta 0.973, p=0.000); and there were differences in VA between both groups (beta -2,46, p=0,000). Of interest, after adjusting for confounding factors, VA in APs seem to be correlated with time of disease (p=0,003) and with highest values on the score chart (p=0,000). 

Conclusion: In our study, we found that APs patients without CV risk factors  had higher VA than healthy controls. Also, we found a good correlation between VA and CA. Time of disease and highest values on the SCORE CV risk chart seem to predict higher VA in APs patients.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/assessment-of-vascular-age-in-psoriatic-arthritis-patients/