Assessment of functional disability and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
BACKGROUND
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic progressive autoimmune inflammatory disorder involving mainly the axial skeleton and larger peripheral joints that progressively limits spinal mobility and may lead to irreversible structural changes and consequently to impaired physical function and reduced quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess functional disability and quality of life of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and determine the correlation between functional disability and quality of life.


METHODS
The study enrolled 74 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (16 females and 58 males). The demographic data of the patients were collected. Functional disability was assessed with the Bath Ankylosing Functional Index (BASFI). Quality of life was assessed by the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and the European Quality of Life Questionnaire (EuroQoL/EQ-5D).


RESULTS
In our study, the mean age was 48.5 +/-10.3 years. BASFI was negatively correlated with the SF-36 physical function subscale (p < 0.001), physical role (p = 0.002), bodily pain (p = 0.003), general health (p < 0.001), vitality (p = 0.012) and mental health (p = 0.010) subscale. There was a significantly inverse correlation between the BASFI score and the rating scale of EQ-5D (p = 0.001). In the regression model, the BASFI score (p = 0.000) showed an independent association with the physical function domain of SF-36.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the BASFI index was associated with physical function, physical role, bodily pain, general health, vitality and mental health domains of SF-36 and also with the rating scale of EQ-5D.
Mustur
Dusan
D
Institute of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology Dr Simo Miloiević, Igalo, Montenegro. mustur@doctor.com
Vesović-Potić
Vladislava
V
Stanisavljević
Dejana
D
Ille
Tatjana
T
Ille
Mihailo
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires