Smoking as associated factor for spondyloarthritis related uveitis: results from a single centre cross-sectional study.

Ocular involvement in spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a frequent extra-articular manifestation and contributes to the burden of disease. Factors associated with spondyloarthritis-related uveitis (SpA-U) are poorly defined in literature. The influence of smoking status on the occurrence of uveitis in SpA is controversial. To clarify the factors associated with SpA-U, we performed an observational cross-sectional study in a Tertiary Rheumatology Centre. Factors independently associated with uveitis were determined by logistic regression models. The study included 164 patients fulfilling the ASAS criteria for axial SpA with follow-up visit between January and June 2019. Smoking was independently associated with uveitis (OR=2.54; 95%CI [1.01-6.42]; p=0.03). Our study emphasizes the importance of smoking cessation in SpA which may have a positive effect in different disease features like uveitis and overall prognosis.