RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Ankylosing Spondylitis Is Associated with Increased Prevalence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 1249 OP 1255 DO 10.3899/jrheum.171124 VO 45 IS 9 A1 Helga Midtbø A1 Eva Gerdts A1 Inger Jorid Berg A1 Silvia Rollefstad A1 Roland Jonsson A1 Anne Grete Semb YR 2018 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/45/9/1249.abstract AB Objective. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a strong precursor for clinical CVD. The aim of our study was to assess whether having AS was associated with increased prevalence of LV hypertrophy.Methods. Clinical and echocardiographic data from 139 AS patients and 126 age- and sex-matched controls was used. LV mass was calculated according to guidelines and indexed to height2.7. LV hypertrophy was considered present if LV mass index was > 49.2 g/m2.7 in men and > 46.7 g/m2.7 in women.Results. Patients with AS were on average 49 ± 12 years old, and 60% were men. The prevalence of hypertension (HTN; 35% vs 41%) and diabetes (5% vs 2%) was similar among patients and controls, while patients with AS had higher serum C-reactive protein level (CRP; p < 0.001). The prevalence of LV hypertrophy was higher in patients with AS compared to controls (15% vs 6%, p = 0.01). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, having AS was associated with OR 6.3 (95% CI 2.1–19.3, p = 0.001) of having LV hypertrophy independent of the presence of HTN, diabetes, and obesity. In multivariable linear regression analyses, having AS was also associated with higher LV mass (β 0.15, p = 0.007) after adjusting for CVD risk factors including sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and serum CRP (multiple R2 = 0.41, p < 0.001).Conclusion. Having AS was associated with increased prevalence of LV hypertrophy independent of CVD risk factors. This finding strengthens the indication for thorough CVD risk assessment in patients with AS.