Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • First Release
    • Current
    • Archives
    • Collections
    • Audiovisual Rheum
    • COVID-19 and Rheumatology
  • Resources
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Payment
    • Reviewers
    • Advertisers
    • Classified Ads
    • Reprints and Translations
    • Permissions
    • Meetings
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Subscribers
    • Subscription Information
    • Purchase Subscription
    • Your Account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Duncan A. Gordon Award
    • Privacy/GDPR Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • JRheum Supplements
  • Services

User menu

  • My Cart
  • Log In

Search

  • Advanced search
The Journal of Rheumatology
  • JRheum Supplements
  • Services
  • My Cart
  • Log In
The Journal of Rheumatology

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • First Release
    • Current
    • Archives
    • Collections
    • Audiovisual Rheum
    • COVID-19 and Rheumatology
  • Resources
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Payment
    • Reviewers
    • Advertisers
    • Classified Ads
    • Reprints and Translations
    • Permissions
    • Meetings
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Subscribers
    • Subscription Information
    • Purchase Subscription
    • Your Account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Duncan A. Gordon Award
    • Privacy/GDPR Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Follow jrheum on Twitter
  • Visit jrheum on Facebook
  • Follow jrheum on LinkedIn
  • Follow jrheum on YouTube
  • Follow jrheum on Instagram
  • Follow jrheum on RSS
Abstract

Predictors of the progression of functional disability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Michael M Ward
The Journal of Rheumatology July 2002, 29 (7) 1420-1425;
Michael M Ward
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
  • eLetters
PreviousNext
Loading

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify patient characteristics that predict the short term (5 yr) rate of progression of functional disability in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: In a prospective longitudinal study, 212 patients with AS reported information on health status on biannual mailed questionnaires. The median duration of followup was 5 yrs (range 1-7.5 yrs). Functional disability was measured using the Health Assessment Questionnaire for the Spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-S; possible range 0-3). Predictors of the rate of change in the HAQ-S over time included demographic characteristics, number of comorbid conditions, age at onset of AS, peripheral arthritis, smoking, body mass index, social support (measured by the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, ISEL), current and past physical activity at work, current and past recreational activity, severity of pain and stiffness, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use, and frequency of back exercise. Associations between the predictors and the rate of progression of functional disability (HAQ-S units/yr) were tested using pooled time series regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients were mostly middle-aged (mean 48 yrs), male (70%), white (86%), and well educated (mean 15.5 yrs), with an average duration of AS of 20 yrs and little functional disability at study entry (mean HAQ-S 0.66). Over a median of 5 yrs, the HAQ-S increased at an average rate of 0.0168 units/yr. In multivariate analyses, older age (change in slope +0.0007 units/yr of age; p = 0.0008) and smoking (change in slope +0.0313 units/yr; p < 0.0001) were associated with more rapid progression, while more frequent back exercise (change in slope -0.0019 units/yr per each additional day/week; p < 0.0001) and better social support (change in slope -0.003 units/yr per 10 point increase in ISEL score; p = 0.05) were associated with improvement in functional disability over time. Smoking and lack of social support were also associated with the progression of functional disability in the subgroup of 58 patients who had AS < 10 yrs at entry. CONCLUSION: Functional disability in AS progresses more rapidly in older patients and smokers, and less rapidly in those who regularly do back exercises and have better social support.

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of Rheumatology
Vol. 29, Issue 7
1 Jul 2002
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by Author
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about The Journal of Rheumatology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Predictors of the progression of functional disability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from The Journal of Rheumatology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the The Journal of Rheumatology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Predictors of the progression of functional disability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Michael M Ward
The Journal of Rheumatology Jul 2002, 29 (7) 1420-1425;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

 Request Permissions

Share
Predictors of the progression of functional disability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Michael M Ward
The Journal of Rheumatology Jul 2002, 29 (7) 1420-1425;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Bookmark this article

Jump to section

  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
  • eLetters

Related Articles

Cited By...

Similar Articles

Content

  • First Release
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Collections
  • Audiovisual Rheum
  • COVID-19 and Rheumatology

Resources

  • Guide for Authors
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Author Payment
  • Reviewers
  • Advertisers
  • Classified Ads
  • Reprints and Translations
  • Permissions
  • Meetings
  • FAQ
  • Policies

Subscribers

  • Subscription Information
  • Purchase Subscription
  • Your Account
  • Terms and Conditions

More

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Alerts
  • My Folders
  • Privacy/GDPR Policy
  • RSS Feeds
The Journal of Rheumatology
The content of this site is intended for health care professionals.
Copyright © 2022 by The Journal of Rheumatology Publishing Co. Ltd.
Print ISSN: 0315-162X; Online ISSN: 1499-2752
Powered by HighWire