scholarly journals Five Potentially Modifiable Factors Predict Poor Quality of Life in Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results from the Scotland Registry for Ankylosing Spondylitis

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda E. Dean ◽  
Gary J. Macfarlane ◽  
Gareth T. Jones

Objective.A chronic inflammatory condition manifesting in young adulthood, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) affects both physical and emotional quality of life (QOL). To inform future intervention strategies, this study aimed to (1) assess the QOL of patients with AS, and (2) identify potentially modifiable factors associated with reporting poor QOL.Methods.The Scotland Registry for Ankylosing Spondylitis collects clinical and patient-reported data on clinically diagnosed patients with AS across Scotland. QOL is measured using the ASQoL questionnaire [range: 0 (high) to 18 (poor)]. Potentially modifiable factors associated with reporting poor QOL (score 12–18) were examined using Poisson regression models, adjusted for a variety of demographic characteristics, plus various nonmodifiable factors. Results are given as risk ratios (RR) with 95% CI.Results.Data were available on 959 patients: 74% male, mean age 52 years (SD 13), median ASQoL 7.0 (interquartile range 2–12). Although many factors were univariately associated with poor QOL, 5 were identified as independent predictors: reporting moderate/severe fatigue (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.13–2.28), poor physical function [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) ≥ 4: 3.46, 1.76–6.82], chronic widespread pain (CWP; 1.92, 1.33–2.75), high disease activity [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) ≥ 4: 1.52, 1.09–2.12], and poor spinal mobility [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) ≥ 4: 1.52, 0.93–2.50]. For these factors, population-attributable risks ranged between 20% (disease activity) and 56% (physical function).Conclusion.We have identified 5 potentially modifiable factors independently associated with poor QOL. These findings provide evidence that in addition to traditional clinical targets (BASDAI, BASFI, and BASMI), focus on nonspecific symptoms (CWP and fatigue), perhaps with nonpharmacological therapies, may yield important improvements in QOL.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gehan Elolemy ◽  
Ahmed Aboughanima ◽  
Sahar Ganeb ◽  
Haytham Elziat

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease leading to functional limitations and subsequently impaired quality of life (QoL). Despite the fact that QoL was recognized as a significant perception, it was excluded from the core domains (defined by the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society), because of ambiguity of measurement choice. Aim: To assess QoL in patients with AS using a generic; Short Form-36 (SF-36) and a diseasespecific; Ankylosing Spondylitis quality of life (ASQoL) instruments and to explore its relationship to the clinical characteristics, disease activity, functional status, and radiographic severity. Methods: A total of 47 AS patients who fulfilled modified New York criteria were included. Disease activity, functional status, spinal mobility, and radiographic severity were assessed by Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) and Bath AS Radiology Index (BASRI) respectively. SF-36 and ASQoL instruments evaluated Qol. Results: Physical health was more affected especially in patients with peripheral arthritis by SF-36 (p=0.008) and ASQoL (p=0.022) scores. Both SF-36 total and ASQoL scores correlated significantly with BASDAI (r = -0.329, p = 0.024 and r = 0.420, p = 0.003), BASFI (r = -0.399, p = 0.005 and r = 0.513, p=0.001) and BASMI (r = -0.382, p = 0.008 and r = 0.482, p= 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: QoL was impaired in AS patients with highest impact on physical health especially in association with peripheral arthritis. SF-36 and ASQol have a comparable achievement in the evaluation of QoL in AS patients and both physical function and spinal mobility were identified as predictors of poor QoL.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e028966
Author(s):  
Ming-Chi Lu ◽  
Kuang-Yung Huang ◽  
Chien-Hsueh Tung ◽  
Bao-Bao Hsu ◽  
Cheng-Han Wu ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the factors associated with disease-specific quality of life in Taiwanese patients with ankylosing spondylitis.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingA regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan.ParticipantsAdult patients with ankylosing spondylitis recruited from the outpatient rheumatology clinics of the study hospital.Primary outcome measureDisease-specific quality of life assessed by the Evaluation of Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (EASi-QoL).ResultsOf the 265 patients, 57% were 20–49 years of age, with a male preponderance (75.5%). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis indicated that a higher disease activity, assessed by the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score, was significantly and independently associated with a lower quality of life in all four domains (physical function, disease activity, emotional well-being and social participation) of the EASi-QoL. In addition, various independent factors, including educational level, nature of occupation, disease duration, dietary habit and body mass index, were significantly associated with different domains of the EASi-QoL.ConclusionsOur findings indicated that, in addition to disease activity and perceived health status, a number of other factors could significantly impact the different aspects of quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, which warrant special consideration and support from healthcare providers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Jacquemin ◽  
Walter P. Maksymowych ◽  
Annelies Boonen ◽  
Laure Gossec

Objective.Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is characterized by periodic flares. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of patient-reported flares and their related factors.Methods.This cross-sectional study analyzed the 2004 data of a Canadian cohort. Participants had AS according to the modified New York criteria. Current flare status (“Are you experiencing a current flare”?), number of flares over the past 3 months, their average duration, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity and Functional Index (BASDAI and BASFI, respectively), and the AS Quality of Life questionnaire were assessed by self-report. Univariate and multivariate regressions analyzed the factors associated with current flare.Results.Among 234 analyzed patients, 169 (73.5%) were men, mean age was 45.5 (± 11.8) years, mean disease duration of 21.7 (± 11.7) years, and mean BASDAI and BASFI (0–10) of 4.4 (± 2.3) and 3.4 (± 2.6), respectively; 18 (7.7%) received antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF). Overall, 175 patients (74.8%) reported flares and 117 (50%) were currently in flare. Patients reporting flares had a median of 3 flares in 3 months, with a median duration of 2 weeks. Overall, the 234 patients spent a median of 25% of their time in flare. In multivariate analyses, current flare was significantly associated with higher BASDAI (OR 2.01, p = 0.01), worse quality of life (OR 1.37, p = 0.004), shorter AS duration (OR 1.19, p = 0.04), and less anti-TNF (OR 7.14, p = 0.03).Conclusion.In this population, before the wide use of biologics, flares were frequent and long. As expected, flare was associated with higher disease activity, suggesting the validity of the concept of patient-reported flares.


2013 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 587-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Huang ◽  
Jieruo Gu ◽  
Ping Zhu ◽  
Chunde Bao ◽  
Jianhua Xu ◽  
...  

Background and objectivesEfficacy of adalimumab for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been established for Western populations but not in the Chinese population. This study is the first to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in Chinese patients with AS.MethodsChinese adults with active AS who had an inadequate response or were intolerant to ≥1 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were randomised to adalimumab 40 mg (N=229) or matching placebo (N=115) subcutaneously every other week (EOW) for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week open-label adalimumab 40 mg EOW phase. The primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage of patients meeting the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS20) response criteria at week 12. The recently developed AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), as well as efficacy measures of spinal mobility, disease activity, physical function and quality of life were evaluated.ResultsAt week 12, adalimumab treatment resulted in a significantly greater percentage of ASAS20 responders than placebo (67.2% versus 30.4%, respectively; p<0.001). Differences in ASAS20 were observed as early as week 2 (42.8% vs 6.1%, respectively; p<0.001). The percentages of patients achieving ASAS40, ASAS 5/6 and ASDAS inactive disease were significantly greater with adalimumab than placebo at week 12 (all p<0.001). Tuberculosis was reported in one patient. No cases of malignancy, lymphoma, demyelinating disease or lupus-like syndrome were reported during the study.ConclusionsAdalimumab significantly reduced the signs and symptoms, improved physical function and quality of life of Chinese patients with active AS, and was generally safe and well tolerated in this population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1953.1-1953
Author(s):  
M. He ◽  
Y. Bao ◽  
Y. Yang ◽  
S. Liu ◽  
C. Dong ◽  
...  

Background:Studies have reported the association between overweight or obesity and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but their relation is still unclear in China.Objectives:To explore the prevalence of overweight or obesity and its effect on other indicators and their relationships in Chinese AS patients.Methods:Demographic and clinical variables were collected from 207 AS patients. Patients were categorized to normal BMI group (BMI < 23kg/m2) and overweight group (BMI ≥ 23kg/m2). We used Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) to evaluate disease activity, physical function, spinal mobility, functional limitation and health-related quality of life, respectively. Statistical analysis used independent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test and Spearman’s rank correlation test.Results:56.5% (117) AS patients were overweight or obese, among which 80.3% (94) were male. In the overweight group, patients were older, more being married, and have higher BMI, higher waist circumference, higher waist-to-hip ratio, longer disease duration, higher BASMI score, higher white blood cell count (WBC), higher lymphocyte and higher platelet count compared to the non-overweight group (P≤ 0.038). However, there was no distinct difference in BASDAI score between the two groups (P= 0.891). In the correlation analyses, gender and marital status (P≤ 0.036) were correlated negatively with BMI; while age, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, WBC, lymphocyte count and red blood cell (P≤ 0.036) were correlated positively with BMI.Conclusion:Overweight or obesity is common in Chinese AS patients. Increased BMI affects not disease activity but spinal mobility, which indicates that patients with high BMI are more likely to have limitations in flexion, extension, lateral bending and torsion of spine.References:[1]Bowness P. Hla-B27. Annu Rev Immunol. 2015;33:29-48.[2]de Araújo TA, Mota MC, Crispim CA. Obesity and sleepiness in women with fibromyalgia. Rheumatology International. 2014;35(2):281-7.Acknowledgments:This study was funded by Science and technology Project of Nantong City (Grant/Award Number: MSZ18217), Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (Grant/Award number: KYCX19_2071 and KYCX18_2410), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant/Award number: 81671616 and 81871278), Science and technology Project of Jiangsu Province (Grant/Award number: BE2018671) and Clinical Research Center of Stem Cells, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong (Grant/Award number: HS2018001).Disclosure of Interests:None declared


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