Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Exploring the impact of conventional and targeted DMARDs on body weight in patients with PsA
Authors' conclusion
The rate of weight gain significantly decreases following the initiation of IL-17i, IL-23i and csDMARDs in PsA. Overall, TNFi and IL12/23i use is associated with weight gain, while apremilast with weight loss.
Study context
- Population
- Large cohort of PsA patients with at least two weight measurements over follow-up1,754 patients
- Exposure
- DMARD classes vs no medications or NSAIDs
- NSAIDs or no medicationsn = 473reference
- csDMARDsn = 571
- bDMARDsn = 702
- JAKin = 42
- Apremilastn = 70
- Outcome
- Absolute weight difference from drug initiation
- Follow-up
- One year
Methodological detailslinear mixed models, change-point modelling
- Linear mixed models
- Change-point modelling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Weight change vs weight at drug initiation
| Group | Value | P |
|---|---|---|
| Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) | 1.54 kg | P < 0.01 |
Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi)
Value1.54 kg
PP < 0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Slope (before vs after) | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Slope of weight change before vs after initiation (change-point modelling)IL-17i, before vs IL-17i, after · significant decrease in rate of weight change | 0.63 ± 0.20 vs −0.26 ± 0.25 | P < 0.01 |
| Slope of weight change before vs after initiation (change-point modelling)IL-23i, before vs IL-23i, after · significant decrease in rate of weight change | 0.82 ± 0.34 vs −0.56 ± 0.56 | P < 0.01 |
| Slope of weight change before vs after initiation (change-point modelling)csDMARDs, before vs csDMARDs, after · significant decrease in rate of weight change | 0.43 ± 0.24 vs −0.20 ± 0.26 | P < 0.01 |
Factors associated with weight change over follow-up
- Weight gain: TNFi, IL12/23i use, male sex, follow-up duration, higher baseline weight
- Weight loss: apremilast, older age, diabetes mellitus
Original publication
Exploring the impact of conventional and targeted DMARDs on body weight in patients with PsA. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 23 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →