Quality of life and related variables in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Ankara Numune Training & Research Hospital, Mürsel Uluç M, 937.S, 35/17, 06450, Ankara, Turkey. haticebodur@gmail.com
Hatice
H
Bodur
Sebnem
S
Ataman
Aylin
A
Rezvani
Derya Soy
DS
Buğdaycı
Remzi
R
Cevik
Murat
M
Birtane
Ayşen
A
Akıncı
Zuhal
Z
Altay
Rezzan
R
Günaydın
Mahmut
M
Yener
Hikmet
H
Koçyiğit
Tuncay
T
Duruöz
Pelin
P
Yazgan
Engin
E
Cakar
Gülümser
G
Aydın
Simin
S
Hepgüler
Lale
L
Altan
Mehmet
M
Kırnap
Neşe
N
Olmez
Raikan
R
Soydemir
Erkan
E
Kozanoğlu
Ajda
A
Bal
Konçuy
K
Sivrioğlu
Murat
M
Karkucak
Zafer
Z
Günendi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D011788:Quality of Life; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult