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. 2025 Jun;12(3):581-592.
doi: 10.1007/s40744-025-00758-6. Epub 2025 Mar 26.

The Relationship Between Metabolic Syndrome and Pain Catastrophizing in Psoriatic Arthritis

Damiano Currado #  1   2 , Onorina Berardicurti #  1   2 , Francesca Saracino  1 , Francesca Trunfio  1 , Lyubomyra Kun  1 , Annalisa Marino  3 , Erika Corberi  1 , Ludovica Lamberti  1 , Piero Ruscitti  4 , Vasiliki Liakouli  5 , Marta Vadacca  2 , Amelia Rigon  2 , Luisa Arcarese  2 , Manuela Pietramale  1 , Francesco De Vincenzo  6 , Marta Vomero  1 , Francesco Ciccia  5 , Roberto Giacomelli  1   2 , Luca Navarini  1   2
Affiliations

The Relationship Between Metabolic Syndrome and Pain Catastrophizing in Psoriatic Arthritis

Damiano Currado et al. Rheumatol Ther. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex inflammatory disease often associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). It has been demonstrated that pain catastrophizing (PC), characterized by an exaggerated negative cognitive and emotional response to actual or anticipated pain, impacts the achievement of remission and therapy discontinuation in patients with PsA. In this study, we evaluate the potential role of MetS, the most prevalent comorbidity in PsA, in influencing PC in patients with PsA.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study on 170 patients with PsA who met the Classification Criteria for PsA and MetS criteria. Data on disease activity, PC, and comorbidities were collected and analyzed using univariable and multivariable regressions.

Results: Our results indicate a significant association between MetS and elevated PC levels in patients with PsA. Univariable analysis identified female gender, fibromyalgia, and higher Disease Activity for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) scores as factors associated with increased PC. Multivariable analysis, adjusted for age, sex, fibromyalgia, and DAPSA, confirmed that MetS independently correlates with higher PC levels (b = 8.84, 95% CI 4.66-13.02, p < 0.0001) and its domains (helplessness, rumination, magnification).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that MetS significantly impacts PC in PsA, underscoring the need for a multidisciplinary approach to patient management. This study highlights the importance of addressing MetS to reduce pain catastrophizing and enhance disease management in PsA.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Pain catastrophizing; Psoriatic arthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of Interest: Damiano Currado, Onorina Berardicurti, Francesca Saracino, Francesca Trunfio, Lyubomyra Kun, Annalisa Marino, Erika Corberi, Ludovica Lamberti, Piero Ruscitti, Vasiliki Liakouli, Marta Vadacca, Amelia Rigon, Luisa Arcarese, Manuela Pietramale, Francesco De Vincenzo, Marta Vomero, Francesco Ciccia, Roberto Giacomelli and Luca Navarini received no specific funding for this work and have nothing to disclose. Ethical Approval: The study received approval from the Ethics Committee of the University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome (approval no. 78.20 OSS) and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent revisions. Written informed consent was obtained from all enrolled patients.

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