Moderation analysis exploring associations between age and mucocutaneous activity in Behçet's syndrome: A multicenter study from Turkey. Issue 12 (27th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mumcu, Gonca; Yay, Meral; Karaçaylı, Ümit; Aksoy, Aysun; Taş, Mehmet Nedim; Armağan, Berkan; Sarı, Alper; Bozca, Burçin Cansu; Tekgöz, Emre; Temiz Karadağ, Duygu; Badak, Suade Özlem; Tecer, Duygu; Yıldırım, Alper; Bes, Cemal; Şahin, Ali; Erken, Eren; Cefle, Ayse; Çınar, Muhammet; Yılmaz, Sedat; Alpsoy, Erkan; Boyvat, Ayşe; Şenel, Soner; Bilge, Şule Yaşar; Kaşifoğlu, Timuçin; Karadağ, Ömer; Aksu, Kenan; Keser, Gökhan; Alibaz‐Öner, Fatma; İnanç, Nevsun; Ergun, Tülin; Direskeneli, Haner;
• Is Part Of: Journal of dermatology. Volume 47:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 1403
• Page End: 1410
• Publication Date: 2020-09-27
• Subjects: Behçet's syndrome -- moderation analysis -- mucocutaneous activity -- Mucocutaneous Index -- sex; Dermatology -- Periodicals; Dermatology -- Japan -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5005
• DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.15553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0385-2407

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of age on mucocutaneous activity by using moderation analysis in Behçet's syndrome (BS). In this cross‐sectional study, 887 BS patients (female : male, 481:406; mean age, 38.4 ± 10.9 years) followed in 13 tertiary centers in Turkey were included. Mucocutaneous activity was evaluated by using the Mucocutaneous Index (MI) according to sex and disease course. Moderation analysis was performed to test the effect of age on mucocutaneous activity. A moderator variable is a third variable and affects the relationship between independent and outcome variables. Age was chosen as a potential moderator variable (interaction effect), MI score as the outcome variable and sex as an independent variable in the analysis. The moderation analysis tested the effects of age in three steps: whole BS patient group, patients without systemic involvement and those with systemic involvement. The moderation model was only significant in BS patients with systemic involvement ( P = 0.0351), and a significant relationship was observed between female sex and MI score ( P = 0.0156). In addition, the interaction plot showed that female patients had increased MI scores compared with male patients, especially in the 28‐year‐old age group ( P = 0.0067). Moreover, major organ involvement was newly diagnosed in the majority of these young female BS patients. Our results suggest that the relationship between sex and mucocutaneous activity was moderated by age in the systemic involvement group. Also, increased mucocutaneous activity may be associated with new major organ involvement in young female BS patients with systemic involvement.