Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and the Related Factors in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and the Related Factors in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis

The aim of this study was to assess the EATT and the related factors in patients with AS and to compare the results with that of the healthy controls'

The aim of this study was to investigate the epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and the related factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to compare the results with those of the healthy controls. This cross-sectional study comprised thirty patients diagnosed with AS based on the modified New York criteria. The control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers. Demographic characteristics were recorded. EATT was measured via transthoracic echocardiography. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-Short Form) were used. Functional capacity assessment was conducted using the six-minute walk test (6MWT).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Disease duration >1 year,
• Being ≥18 years
• AS diagnosis according to modified New York Criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being illiterate,
• >65 years,
• History of ischemic heart disease,
• Cerebrovascular disease,
• Hypertension,
• Chronic kidney failure,
• endocrinopathies like diabetes mellitus,
• hypothyroidism,
• Cushing syndrome and primary hyperlipidemia.