Examining the cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of anxiety sensitivity on indicators of disease severity among patients with inflammatory arthritis

Few studies have investigated anxiety sensitivity (AS) in the context of inflammatory arthritis (IA), despite evidence of a relationship between AS and pain. This study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between AS and indicators of IA severity in 148 participants with IA. AS and its factors (social, physical, cognitive) were self-reported. Arthritis severity was physician-assessed (disease activity scales) and self-reported (physical function; pain and fatigue). Cross-sectional correlations assessed the association between AS and arthritis severity outcomes. Longitudinal multivariable mixed-effect regressions assessed the association of AS total and AS factors at each visit with disease severity outcomes. All AS factors were significantly and positively correlated (at the same visit) with function, pain, and fatigue. AS total significantly predicted pain, fatigue, and function. Cognitive AS significantly predicted fatigue, and physical AS significantly predicted pain and fatigue. Social AS significantly predicted pain, fatigue, function and weighted joint count (articular burden). AS is associated with several indicators of disease severity among those with IA; unique findings emerged across factors with the broadest disease impact by social AS. The AS factors, especially social AS, may contribute to the development and severity of IA symptoms, which may have implications for interventions.