Ortolan A, Lorenzin M, Felicetti M, et al. - Higher disease activity scores were exhibited by overweight and obese patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) vs patients with a normal body mass index (BMI). Seemingly, this difference is clinically significant only for the comparison between obese patients and those with normal BMI, and more for BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) than ASDAS (Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score).

• A systematic review and meta‐analysis of 10 eligible articles to determine if overweight/obesity are related to higher disease activity measures in patients suffering from axial SpA.

• Between normal BMI and overweight/obese patients, mean difference (MD) in BASDAI and ASDAS was –0.38 and –0.19, respectively.

• Between normal BMI and overweight patients, MD in BASDAI was –0.09, and was –0.78 between normal BMI and obese patients.

• MD in ASDAS was –0.02 between normal BMI and overweight patients and was –0.42 between normal BMI and obese patients.