THE HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS ASSESSED BY SF-36

Abstract

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic arthritis primarily affecting the sacroiliac joints and spine, progressively progressing decrease or loss of spine mobility, severely influences the quality of life. The SF-36 questionnaire is useful in assessing quality of life, monitoring clinical outcomes and effectiveness of treament of ankylosing spondylitis. This study aims to assess the quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and investigate its correlation with clinical factors. Method: In this cross-sectional study, included 34 ankylosing spondylitis patients who were diagnosed according to the modified New York 1984 criteria. The health status was assessed by using the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: The patients with ankylosing spondylitis had average quality of life (82.4%) and low (17.6%). The mean physical component summary score, mental component summary and SF-36 score was: 36.48 ± 17.89, 48.79 ± 18.49 and 42.66 ± 17.52. There was significant correlation with disease activity, the body mass index and no correlation with age at diagnosis, duration of disease. Conclusions: The patients with ankylosing spondylitis is had significantly low SF-36 scores in all domains. The physical component summary score was more affected than the mental component summary score. Key words: Ankylosing spondylitis, the health-related quality of life, the SF-36 questionnaire