OP0120 The role of smoking in the development and progression of structural damage in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: the preliminary results of a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 76; no. Suppl 2; p. 102
• Main Authors: Akar, S, Kaplan, YC, Ecemis, S, Arslan, EK, Gercik, O, Solmaz, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Ankylosing spondylitis; Arthritis; Back pain; Clinical trials; Data processing; Longitudinal studies; Meta-analysis; Quality control; Rheumatology; Smoking; Spondylitis; Systematic review; Validity
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-eular.4659

BackgroundSmoking may constitute a major risk factor for not only disease susceptibility but also disease severity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Some previous cross-sectional and longitudinal studies suggested that smoking may be associated with cumulative spinal radiographic damage and regarded it as an independent predictor of spinal radiographic progression.ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to determine whether smoking is associated with the cumulative radiographic spinal structural damage and radiographic progression in AS patients. In order to reach this objective, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available studies to-date.MethodsAn electronic search was conducted from inception to June 21 2016 in EMBASE, MEDLINE/PubMed Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort studies investigating the association between smoking and cumulative spinal structural damage or radiographic progression were included. The outcome of interest were the presence of syndesmophytes in cross-sectional studies and radiographic progression in longitudinal studies. Two independent reviewers carried out the screening process. The Quality assessment was done using The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ARHQ) checklist and Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Authors of potential relevant studies were contacted for the unpublished data. Data from eligible cross-sectional studies were extracted and arranged in a 2x2 table. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the dichotomous outcome of interest were computed. Random-effects method was used to combine the outcome data in Comprehensive Meta Analysis Software Version 3.3.070.ResultsThe combined data of eight eligible cross-sectional studies for the assessment of association between smoking and cumulative spinal structural damage suggested a significant association (OR, 2.02; 95% CI 1.51–2.70) (Figure 1). No significant heterogeneity was detected between studies (P=0.25, I2=23.0%). The data from the longitudinal studies investigating the association between smoking and spinal radiographic progression is still been assessed.ConclusionsThe preliminary results of our meta-analysis showed that smoking is associated with increased cumulative spinal structural damage in patients with AS. Rheumatologists should encourage AS patients to quit smoking.Disclosure of InterestNone declared