Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a class of arthritis that influences the spine. The symptoms involve pain and stiffness from the neck down to the lower back. AS influences both physical and emotional quality of life (QOL). The study aimed to assess the QOL of patients with AS, and recognise potentially modifiable factors associated with reporting poor QOL.

The Scotland Registry for Ankylosing Spondylitis collects clinical and patient-reported data on clinically diagnosed patients with AS across Scotland. QOL is estimated using the ASQoL questionnaire [range: 0 (high) to 18 (poor)]. Potentially modifiable factors related to reporting poor QOL (score 12-18) were measured using Poisson regression models, regulate a variety of demographic characteristics, plus various nonmodifiable factors. Results are given as risk ratios (RR) with 95% CI.

Assessments were accessible on 959 patients: 74% male, mean age 52 years (SD 13), median ASQoL 7.0 (interquartile range 2-12). Even though many aspects were univariately related with poor QOL, 5 were recoznized as distinct predictors: investigated moderate/severe fatigue (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.13-2.28), poor physical activity [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) ≥ 4: 3.46, 1.76-6.82], high disease action [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) ≥ 4: 1.52, 1.09-2.12], chronic widespread pain (CWP; 1.92, 1.33-2.75), and poor spinal mobility [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) ≥ 4: 1.52, 0.93-2.50]. Assessment aspects, population-attributable risks ranged between 20% (disease activity) and 56% (physical function).

We have identified five potentially modifiable factors independently related to poor QOL. Evaluated data give evidence that including to traditional clinical targets (BASDAI, BASFI, and BASMI), concentrate on nonspecific signs (CWP and fatigue), perhaps with nonpharmacological treatments, may yield necessary improvements in QOL.