Physical activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in a multi-ethnic south-east Asian country

Jie Kie Phang,Andrew Yu Keat Khor,Yu Heng Kwan,Chin Teck Ng,Warren Fong

doi:10.1186/s41927-021-00211-5

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) may experience spinal stiffness and pain, leading to reduced physical function and quality of life. Despite the benefits of physical activity (PA) and exercise, previous studies have demonstrated lower levels of PA among patients with axSpA. This study aims to examine the patterns of PA among patients with axSpA compared to the general population in a multi-ethnic Asian country.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted between May 2016 and Jan 2017. Consecutive patients with axSpA were recruited at an outpatient rheumatology clinic at Singapore General Hospital, the largest tertiary hospital in Singapore. Controls were based on a previous cross-sectional study. PA was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ).ResultsSeventy-four patients with axSpA were recruited and compared with 2679 controls. Lower proportion of patients with axSpA met the WHO recommendations for PA (axSpA = 77.0%, controls = 89.7%, p < 0.001). More patients with axSpA had high level of sedentary activity compared to controls (axSpA = 56.8%, controls = 36.1%, p < 0.001). Levels of PA did not differ between patients with inactive versus active axSpA disease (p = 0.91).ConclusionsProportion of patients with axSpA meeting the WHO recommendations for PA differed significantly from the general population, and level of PA did not differ between patients with active and inactive axSpA disease. Higher levels of sedentary activity were seen in patient with axSpA compared to the general population, highlighting the need for interventions to promote PA among patients with axSpA.

Highlights

Patients with axial spondyloarthritis have predominantly inflammatory back pain, and their axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints are often affected [1]. This leads to reduced spinal mobility and function [2], which may result in reduced physical functioning and quality of life (QOL) [3]
The aim of this paper is to examine the patterns of physical activity (PA) among patients with axSpA compared to the general population in a multi-ethnic Asian country
Socio-demographic characteristics Seventy-four patients with axSpA were recruited. They were compared to 2679 controls from the study by Win Am et al [13]

Summary

Introduction

Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) have predominantly inflammatory back pain, and their axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints are often affected [1]. This leads to reduced spinal mobility and function [2], which may result in reduced physical functioning and quality of life (QOL) [3]. Physical activity (PA) and exercise have been shown to improve general well-being and reduce CVD risk in the general population [5]. Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) may experience spinal stiffness and pain, leading to reduced physical function and quality of life. Despite the benefits of physical activity (PA) and exercise, previous studies have demonstrated lower levels of PA among patients with axSpA. This study aims to examine the patterns of PA among patients with axSpA compared to the general population in a multi-ethnic Asian country

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