Endokrinologie und Diabetesforschung

Fasting Blood Glucose, Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Maryam Masoumi, Reihane Tabaraii, Mohaddeseh Farhadi, Sayyed Ali Moosavi, Sayyed Ali Moosavi, Cailan Feingold and Abbas Smiley

Background: The goal was to assess patterns of Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Waist Circumference (WC) in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 142 RA patients. Demographics, disease characteristics, lifestyle factors, FBG, BMI, and WC were collected. A convenient sampling method was employed. Multivariable linear regression model and multivariable Generalized Additive Model (GAM) were built after application of backward elimination to explore the relationship between FBG/BMI/WC and risk factors. The predicted smooth functions and 95% confidence intervals were plotted in multivariable GAM models. P<0.05 was significant. All analyses used R Statistical Software.

Results: 82% of patients were females. Mean (SD) age was 52 (13) years. The prevalence of prediabetic FBG and diabetic FBG were 27% and 19%, respectively. A significant association was observed between FBG and adalimumab (β=0.77, 95%CI, 0.32 to 1.21, P=0.001), hydroxychloroquine (β=-11.19, 95%CI, -0.54 to -21.84, P=0.04) and wake-up time on weekends (β=-2.72, 95%CI, -5.26 to -0.17, P=0.04). The prevalence of overweight and obese BMI was 32% and 39%, respectively. Sleep duration on weekdays (EDF=1.37, P<0.04) and smoking (β=-0.17, P=0.04) were associated with BMI. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 48% and it was associated with sleep duration on weekdays (EDF=2.00, P<0.005). Gender modified the relationship of sleep duration and BMI/WC.

Conclusion: In RA patients, adalimumab and late wake-up time on weekends were risk factors for FBG while hydroxychloroquine was protective. In female patients, sleep duration was associated with BMI and WC and smoking was associated with BMI.