Determinants of Body Mass Index in Early Systemic Sclerosis: Implications for Nutritional Risk Stratification

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Gastroenterology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) complications in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) can lead to malnutrition.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) is a primary screening tool for nutritional status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of lower BMI in patients diagnosed with SSc.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a prospective US cohort of SSc patients meeting 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria.
• Utilized linear mixed-effects models to assess associations between baseline variables and serial BMI measurements.
• Included variables from univariable analyses and known confounders in a multivariable model.

Main Results:

• In multivariable analysis, intestinal pseudo-obstruction (β = -6.28, P = 0.032), smaller oral aperture (β = 0.95, P = 0.049), and vascular severity (β = -0.85, P = 0.022) were independently associated with lower BMI.
• Younger age at baseline was linked to lower BMI in univariable analysis (β = 0.06, P = 0.003).
• Anti-centromere antibody positivity predicted higher BMI (β = 1.69, P = 0.036).

Conclusions:

• Smaller oral aperture, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and vascular severity are significant independent predictors of lower BMI in SSc patients.
• These findings can aid in risk stratification for clinical trials and the development of targeted interventions.