POS1487-HPR THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEXUAL QUALITY OF LIFE AND CLINICAL FEATURES IN PATIENTS WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS

Abstract

BackgroundAxial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is associated to a significant economic and social burden, due to the fact that it affects young individuals during their most productive years of life. Sexuality is one of the health areas affected by axSpA, owed to pain and inflammation, loss of axial and peripheral mobility, joint deformity, joint replacement surgeries, and adverse events secondary to therapy.ObjectivesTo assess the relationship between disease related variables, treatment and sexual quality of life in patients with ax-SpA.MethodsThirty-nine ax-SpA patients (69.2% female) were included in the study. Median age was 36.0 (IQR 25/75: 25.32/41.7) years, mean body mass index was 26.34±4.64 kg/m2, median time since symptom onset was 10.0 (IQR 25/75: 9.59/14.72) years, median time since diagnosis was 6.0 (IQR 25/75: 5.70/8.66) years, and treatment with anti-TNF alpha was 64.1%. All the patients completed the Qualisex questionnaire to assess the quality of sexual life. Axial mobility according to the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) was calculated. All the patients completed the questionnaires Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and, to evaluate disease activity and functional status respectively. Furthermore, patients fulfilled Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (AsQoL) and Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) to evaluate quality of life and musculoskeletal health respectively. Spearman’s rank-order correlation test was used to analyse the relationships between sexual quality of life and clinical features.ResultsThe results of BASMI and the self-reported questionnaires Qualisex, BASDAI, BASFI, AsQoL and MSK-HQ scores of patients with ax-SpA were summarized in Table 1. Moderate relationships were found between Qualisex questionnaire and BASMI, MSK-HQ (Table 1, p<0.05). Qualisex questionnaire has the strongest association with BASFI (rho: .703, p<0.001) and average association with BASDAI (rho: .648, p<0.001) and AsQoL (rho: -.612, p<0.001).Table 1.The relationships between Qualisex questionnaire and BASMI, self-reported questionnaires BASFI, BASDAI, AsQoL, MSK-HQ in patient with axSpACharacteristicsMedian (IQR 25/75) (n:39)The correlation results, rho, p valuesQualisex questionnaireBASFI3.1 (2.87/3.9).703* p<0.001BASDAI4.3 (3.67/4.74).648* p<0.001AsQoL10 (8.88/11.18)-.612* p<0.001BASMI2.2 (2.26/3.15).403* p=0.016MSK-HQ30 (30.18/34.5)-.522* p=0.001Qualisexquestionnaire3.7 (2.69/3.73)IQR 25/75: Interquartile range between 25th and 75th percentiles; axSpA, Axial spondyloarthritis; BASMI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; AsQoL, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life; MSK-HQ, Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire *Spearman’s rank-order correlation test, p<0.05.ConclusionAccording to our results; especially high disease activity and lower functional status were highly associated with worse sexual health in axSpA patients. Improving disease activity, funnctional status and axial mobility may help to improve sexual health in those patients.