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Physical function and sex differences in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis : a cross-sectional analysis on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index

Hallström, Magnus ; Klingberg, Eva ; Deminger, Anna ; Rehnman, Jeannette Beckman ; Geijer, Mats LU and Forsblad-d’Elia, Helena (2023) In Arthritis Research and Therapy 25(1).
Abstract

Background: Physical function is an important determinant of health-related quality of life in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients (r-axSpA). To improve the basis of effective healthcare efforts, we aimed to investigate which demographic and disease-related factors that influence Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) in r-axSpA patients overall and stratified by sex. Furthermore, we sought to explore differences between sexes regarding separate BASFI questions and also to explore which factors that may contribute to these differences. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included patients fulfilling the modified New York criteria for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Patients were assessed with 66/68 joint... (More)

Background: Physical function is an important determinant of health-related quality of life in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients (r-axSpA). To improve the basis of effective healthcare efforts, we aimed to investigate which demographic and disease-related factors that influence Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) in r-axSpA patients overall and stratified by sex. Furthermore, we sought to explore differences between sexes regarding separate BASFI questions and also to explore which factors that may contribute to these differences. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included patients fulfilling the modified New York criteria for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Patients were assessed with 66/68 joint count and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) measurements. Lateral X-rays were performed for Modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-C-Reactive Protein (CRP), and BASFI were registered. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to investigate which factors that associate with BASFI. Results: A total of 353 r-axSpA patients were included, mean age 52.2 ± 12.7 years, 62.3% males. No significant sex difference was seen in BASFI scores (2.7 ± 2.0 in males vs 2.9 ± 2.1 in females). Age, body mass index, ASDAS-CRP, BASMI or mSASSS, fatigue, and tenderness were found to associate independently with BASFI in different models (R 2 0.53–0.63). Investigation of separate BASFI questions revealed that the ability to look over shoulder was worse in males than females (mean 4.43 ± 3.37 vs 3.74 ± 3.06, p = 0.05) and most strongly correlated with mSASSS and BASMI among separate BASFI questions (r = 0.53, p < 0.001; r = 0.62, p < 0.001). The ability to climb stairs was worse in females than males (mean 2.49 ± 2.77 vs 1.54 ± 2.32, p < 0.001). Conclusions: No difference between male and female r-axSpA patients was seen in BASFI despite significant sex differences in BASMI, mSASSS, and CRP levels. Our results underline the impact of fatigue and tenderness on BASFI. The ability to climb stairs without a handrail was scored worse among females compared to males. Furthermore, the ability to look over the shoulder was worse in males than females and closely related to spinal mobility and structural spinal changes.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Ankylosing spondylitis, Cross-sectional study, Fatigue, Functional performance, Radiography, Sex, Spondyloarthritis
in
Arthritis Research and Therapy
volume
25
issue
1
article number
182
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:37749599
  • scopus:85172088242
ISSN
1478-6354
DOI
10.1186/s13075-023-03173-w
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023, BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
id
4ae2be34-0049-4bac-9024-a7288689d0f2
date added to LUP
2023-12-04 15:15:24
date last changed
2024-04-17 11:28:27
@article{4ae2be34-0049-4bac-9024-a7288689d0f2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Physical function is an important determinant of health-related quality of life in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients (r-axSpA). To improve the basis of effective healthcare efforts, we aimed to investigate which demographic and disease-related factors that influence Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) in r-axSpA patients overall and stratified by sex. Furthermore, we sought to explore differences between sexes regarding separate BASFI questions and also to explore which factors that may contribute to these differences. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included patients fulfilling the modified New York criteria for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Patients were assessed with 66/68 joint count and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) measurements. Lateral X-rays were performed for Modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-C-Reactive Protein (CRP), and BASFI were registered. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to investigate which factors that associate with BASFI. Results: A total of 353 r-axSpA patients were included, mean age 52.2 ± 12.7 years, 62.3% males. No significant sex difference was seen in BASFI scores (2.7 ± 2.0 in males vs 2.9 ± 2.1 in females). Age, body mass index, ASDAS-CRP, BASMI or mSASSS, fatigue, and tenderness were found to associate independently with BASFI in different models (R <sup>2</sup> 0.53–0.63). Investigation of separate BASFI questions revealed that the ability to look over shoulder was worse in males than females (mean 4.43 ± 3.37 vs 3.74 ± 3.06, p = 0.05) and most strongly correlated with mSASSS and BASMI among separate BASFI questions (r = 0.53, p &lt; 0.001; r = 0.62, p &lt; 0.001). The ability to climb stairs was worse in females than males (mean 2.49 ± 2.77 vs 1.54 ± 2.32, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: No difference between male and female r-axSpA patients was seen in BASFI despite significant sex differences in BASMI, mSASSS, and CRP levels. Our results underline the impact of fatigue and tenderness on BASFI. The ability to climb stairs without a handrail was scored worse among females compared to males. Furthermore, the ability to look over the shoulder was worse in males than females and closely related to spinal mobility and structural spinal changes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hallström, Magnus and Klingberg, Eva and Deminger, Anna and Rehnman, Jeannette Beckman and Geijer, Mats and Forsblad-d’Elia, Helena}},
  issn         = {{1478-6354}},
  keywords     = {{Ankylosing spondylitis; Cross-sectional study; Fatigue; Functional performance; Radiography; Sex; Spondyloarthritis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{Arthritis Research and Therapy}},
  title        = {{Physical function and sex differences in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis : a cross-sectional analysis on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13075-023-03173-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s13075-023-03173-w}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}