Quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: relationships with spinal mobility, disease activity and functional status

The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life (QOL) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to determine the relationships between QOL and clinical variables including spinal mobility, disease activity and functional status. Forty-eight adult patients who fulfilled the modified New York criteria for AS were included in the study. After detailed physical examination, disease-specific instruments: the Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) and the Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) were applied. QOL was assessed using short form-36 (SF-36). The mean age of the patients was 37.0 ± 9.7 years and the mean duration of symptoms was 11.7 ± 8.4 years. Most affected domains of SF-36 were bodily pain, vitality, and physical role, respectively. No significant correlations were found between SF-36 subgroup scores and chest expansion, wall–tragus distance, chin–sternum distance, and floor–finger tip distance. Only modified Schober correlated with two SF-36 domains: physical role and bodily pain. BASDAI and BASFI scores had significant negative correlations with all SF-36 domains except for general health. Identification of QOL in patients with AS is very important in evaluation of illness-related sufferings and development of new management strategies.