A LARGE cohort study from the Gladman Krembil Psoriatic Arthritis Research Program has shed new light on the connection between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and radiographic changes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Researchers followed over 1,400 PsA patients for a median of 10 years to explore how MetS might influence structural damage seen on imaging.
While MetS—a cluster of conditions including obesity, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance—is common among people with PsA and linked to higher disease activity, the study found no significant association between MetS and traditional PsA-related joint damage. Specifically, MetS did not correlate with increased damage to peripheral joints or axial disease features such as syndesmophytes or sacroiliitis.
However, MetS was associated with a greater occurrence of degenerative changes, including calcaneal spurs, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), and degenerative disc disease. These findings suggest that MetS may contribute more to age-related and metabolic skeletal changes rather than direct PsA-related joint destruction.
The authors highlight the importance of monitoring and managing MetS in PsA patients—not only for cardiovascular health but also to address the broader impact on musculoskeletal well-being.
Reference
Kharouf F et al. Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Radiographic Changes in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Cohort Study. ACR. 2025;DOI: 10.1002/acr.25513.
