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Quality of life and related variables in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate quality of life (QoL) and related variables in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine.

Methods

Nine-hundred and sixty-two patients with AS from the Turkish League Against Rheumatism AS Registry, who fulfilled the modified New York criteria, were enrolled. The patients were evaluated using the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society core outcome domains including Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), fatigue (BASDAI-question 1), pain (last week/spine/due to AS), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI), Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) and two QoL questionnaires (the disease-specific ASQoL and generic the Short Form-36 [SF-36]).

Results

The mean ASQoL score was 7.1 ± 5.7. SF-36 subscales of general health, physical role and bodily pain had the poorest scores. ASQoL was strongly correlated with disease duration, BASDAI, fatigue, BASFI, BASMI, BASRI, MASES, pain and SF-36 subscales (P < 0.001). SF-36 subscales were also strongly correlated with BASDAI and BASFI. Advanced educational status and regular exercise habits positively affected QoL, while smoking negatively affected QoL.

Conclusions

In patients with AS, the most significant variables associated with QoL were BASDAI, BASFI, fatigue and pain. ASQoL was noted to be a short, rapid and simple patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument and strongly correlated with SF-36 subscales.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to all members of the TRASD AS Study group for their cooperation and to Wyeth/Pfizer Company for the registery sponsorship.

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Correspondence to Hatice Bodur.

Additional information

Filiz M. Sertpoyraz, İzmir Tepecik Training & Research Hospital; Barış Nacır Ankara Training & Research Hospital; Ömer Faruk Şendur, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine; Melek Sezgin Mersin University School of Medicine, Ferda Özkan, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training & Research Hospital, Figen Ayhan Ankara Training & Research Hospital; Ali Sallı Selçuk University School of Medicine; O. Hakan Gündüz, Marmara University School of Medicine; Sami Hizmetli, Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine; Funda Atamaz, Ege University School of Medicine.

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Bodur, H., Ataman, Ş., Rezvani, A. et al. Quality of life and related variables in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Qual Life Res 20, 543–549 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9771-9

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