BackgroundThe prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has often been found to be increased in patients with axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA) compared to the general population. However, studies conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) have found varying results with regards to prevalence. One study1 found that 5% of patients with axSpA had DM, compared to 4% of patients without axSpA and another UK study2 reported that although findings showed a 1.8% increase in DM in patients with axSpA compared to controls, this result was not significant. There is also the influence of ethnicity to consider as DM is more prevalent in the Asian and Afro-Caribbean population. Therefore, it is evident that more research is required into the relationship between DM and axSpA.ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the correlation between DM and axSpA, and also explore the influence of ethnicity on DM and axSpA.MethodsRetrospective analysis was carried out for axSpA patients attending University Hospitals of Leicester axSpA services. Inclusion criteria entailed an axSpA diagnosis and a Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) within a year of MRI spine and sacroiliac joints before starting biological therapy. Patients were excluded if they had an active infection or malignancy, BASDAI was not documented before starting biological therapy or within a year of MRI, or if clinical information was not able to be obtained. Data was obtained from electronic medical records, including age, gender, ethnicity, date of diagnosis of axSpA and DM, and cardiovascular comorbidities.ResultsOf the 149 patients, 8 (5.37%) had a diagnosis of DM. 4 (50%) of these patients were diagnosed with DM prior to diagnosis of axSpA, and 4 (50%) were diagnosed with DM post diagnosis of axSpA. Differences in ethnicity were analysed. Of the 149 axSpA patients, 102 (68.46%) were Caucasian, 45 (30.20%) were Asian, and 2 (1.34%) were Afro-Caribbean. Of the 102 Caucasian patients, 3 (2.94%) had DM, of whom 1 was diagnosed with axSpA prior to diagnosis of DM. Of the 45 Asian patients, 5 (11.11%) had DM, of whom 3 were diagnosed with axSpA prior to diagnosis of DM. Looking at cardiovascular comorbidities, of the 8 patients with axSpA and DM, 2 (25%) had hypertension, and were both diagnosed with axSpA prior to diagnosis of DM.ConclusionThis small study has found a similar prevalence of DM in patients with axSpA (5.37%) compared to the general UK population (6%), which contrasts with published international studies which have found a higher prevalence of DM in the axSpA group. However, the study did find a higher prevalence in the Asian population (11.11%) which is in keeping with ethnic variation for DM. Larger epidemiological studies are needed to understand the reason for reported higher prevalence of DM in patients with axSpA in other countries compared to the UK.References[1]Dregan A, Chowienczyk P, Molokhia M. Cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes morbidity and all-cause mortality among diverse chronic inflammatory disorders. Heart (British Cardiac Society). 2017;103(23):1867-1873.[2]Ahmed N, Prior JA, Chen Y, Hayward R, Mallen CD, Hider SL. Prevalence of cardiovascular-related comorbidity in ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis in primary care: a matched retrospective cohort study. Clinical Rheumatology. 2016;35(12):3069-3073.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared