TR
EN
Age-related differences in the association between nutritional– inflammatory indices and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis
Abstract
Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which inflammation and nutritional status jointly influence disease severity and prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between nutritional–inflammatory indices—C-reactive protein–Albumin–Lymphocyte (CALLY) index, Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI)—and disease activity in patients with RA.
Materials and Methods: Clinical and laboratory data of 199 RA patients who presented to the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic between January 2024 and July 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Disease activity was assessed using DAS28-CRP, CDAI, and SDAI scores. PNI, CONUT, CALLY, and GNRI values (for patients aged ≥60 years) were calculated, and their correlations with disease activity and nutritional parameters were examined.
Results: The study included 199 patients with a mean age of 53.4 ± 14.5 years, of whom 72.9% were female. The CALLY and PNI indices showed strong negative correlations with disease activity indicators, including DAS28-CRP and SDAI scores. The CONUT score was not significantly associated with disease activity. In the geriatric subgroup (≥60 years), correlations between all indices and disease activity were stronger, and GNRI was found to be negatively associated with both malnutrition risk and inflammatory activity.
Conclusion: The CALLY and PNI indices are reliable and practical laboratory markers that comprehensively reflect inflammatory burden and nutritional status in RA. GNRI appears clinically useful for assessing malnutrition and inflammation-related frailty, particularly in older patients. Integrating nutritional–inflammatory indices into routine clinical evaluation may enhance comprehensive monitoring of disease activity and support comprehensive patient management.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Internal Diseases, Rheumatology and Arthritis
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
January 1, 2026
Submission Date
October 21, 2025
Acceptance Date
November 6, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 16 Number: 4
APA
Çelikdelen, S. Ö., Ertürk, R., & Bilici, R. (2026). Age-related differences in the association between nutritional– inflammatory indices and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory, 16(4), 531-539. https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.1807702
AMA
1.Çelikdelen SÖ, Ertürk R, Bilici R. Age-related differences in the association between nutritional– inflammatory indices and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. TJCL. 2026;16(4):531-539. doi:10.18663/tjcl.1807702
Chicago
Çelikdelen, Selma Özlem, Rümeysa Ertürk, and Reyhan Bilici. 2026. “Age-Related Differences in the Association Between Nutritional– Inflammatory Indices and Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis”. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory 16 (4): 531-39. https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.1807702.
EndNote
Çelikdelen SÖ, Ertürk R, Bilici R (January 1, 2026) Age-related differences in the association between nutritional– inflammatory indices and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory 16 4 531–539.
IEEE
[1]S. Ö. Çelikdelen, R. Ertürk, and R. Bilici, “Age-related differences in the association between nutritional– inflammatory indices and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis”, TJCL, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 531–539, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.18663/tjcl.1807702.
ISNAD
Çelikdelen, Selma Özlem - Ertürk, Rümeysa - Bilici, Reyhan. “Age-Related Differences in the Association Between Nutritional– Inflammatory Indices and Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis”. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory 16/4 (January 1, 2026): 531-539. https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.1807702.
JAMA
1.Çelikdelen SÖ, Ertürk R, Bilici R. Age-related differences in the association between nutritional– inflammatory indices and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. TJCL. 2026;16:531–539.
MLA
Çelikdelen, Selma Özlem, et al. “Age-Related Differences in the Association Between Nutritional– Inflammatory Indices and Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis”. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory, vol. 16, no. 4, Jan. 2026, pp. 531-9, doi:10.18663/tjcl.1807702.
Vancouver
1.Selma Özlem Çelikdelen, Rümeysa Ertürk, Reyhan Bilici. Age-related differences in the association between nutritional– inflammatory indices and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. TJCL. 2026 Jan. 1;16(4):531-9. doi:10.18663/tjcl.1807702