Kari Hansen Berg1,2, Gudrun Elin Rohde3,4, Anne Prøven3,4, Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad3,4, Monika Østensen3,4, Glenn Haugeberg3,4. 1. From the Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder; Department of Rheumatology, Sorlandet Hospital HF, Kristiansand; Department of Rheumatology, Martina Hansens Hospital, Bærum; Department of Neuroscience, Division of Rheumatology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. kari.h.berg@uia.no. 2. K.H. Berg, PhD Student, Head of Institute of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder; G.E. Rohde, Professor, Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder, and Department of Rheumatology, Sorlandet Hospital HF; A. Prøven, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Martina Hansens Hospital; E.E. Benestad, Professor, Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder; M. Østensen, Professor Emeritus, Department of Rheumatology, Sorlandet Hospital HF; G. Haugeberg, Professor, Department of Rheumatology, Sorlandet Hospital HF, and Department of Neuroscience, Division of Rheumatology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. kari.h.berg@uia.no. 3. From the Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder; Department of Rheumatology, Sorlandet Hospital HF, Kristiansand; Department of Rheumatology, Martina Hansens Hospital, Bærum; Department of Neuroscience, Division of Rheumatology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. 4. K.H. Berg, PhD Student, Head of Institute of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder; G.E. Rohde, Professor, Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder, and Department of Rheumatology, Sorlandet Hospital HF; A. Prøven, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Martina Hansens Hospital; E.E. Benestad, Professor, Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder; M. Østensen, Professor Emeritus, Department of Rheumatology, Sorlandet Hospital HF; G. Haugeberg, Professor, Department of Rheumatology, Sorlandet Hospital HF, and Department of Neuroscience, Division of Rheumatology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between demographics, disease-related variables, treatment, and sexual quality of life (SQOL) in men and women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). METHODS: AxSpA patients were consecutively recruited from 2 rheumatology outpatient clinics in southern Norway. A broad spectrum of demographics, disease, treatment, and QOL data were systematically collected. SQOL was assessed using the SQOL-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaire (score range 18-108). Appropriate statistical tests were applied for group comparison, and the association between independent variables and SQOL-F was examined using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 360 (240 men, 120 women) axSpA patients with mean age 45.5 years and disease duration 13.9 years were included. Seventy-eight percent were married/cohabiting, 26.7% were current smokers, 71.0% were employed, 86.0% performed > 1-h exercise per week, and 88.0% were HLA-B27-positive. Mean (SD) values for disease measures were C-reactive protein (CRP) 8.5 (12.1) mg/l, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index 3.1 (2.1), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Score (BAS-G) 3.8 (2.5), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index 2.7 (2.2), and Health Assessment Questionnaire 0.6 (0.5). The proportion of patients using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs was 44.0%, synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) 5.0%, and biologic DMARD 24.0%. Mean (SD) total sum score for SQOL was 76.6 (11.3). In multivariate analysis, female sex, increased body mass index, measures reflecting disease activity (BAS-G and CRP), and current biologic treatment were independently associated with a lower SQOL. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that inflammation in patients with axSpA even in the biologic treatment era reduces SQOL.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between demographics, disease-related variables, treatment, and sexual quality of life (SQOL) in men and women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). METHODS: AxSpA patients were consecutively recruited from 2 rheumatology outpatient clinics in southern Norway. A broad spectrum of demographics, disease, treatment, and QOL data were systematically collected. SQOL was assessed using the SQOL-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaire (score range 18-108). Appropriate statistical tests were applied for group comparison, and the association between independent variables and SQOL-F was examined using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 360 (240 men, 120 women) axSpA patients with mean age 45.5 years and disease duration 13.9 years were included. Seventy-eight percent were married/cohabiting, 26.7% were current smokers, 71.0% were employed, 86.0% performed > 1-h exercise per week, and 88.0% were HLA-B27-positive. Mean (SD) values for disease measures were C-reactive protein (CRP) 8.5 (12.1) mg/l, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index 3.1 (2.1), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Score (BAS-G) 3.8 (2.5), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index 2.7 (2.2), and Health Assessment Questionnaire 0.6 (0.5). The proportion of patients using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs was 44.0%, synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) 5.0%, and biologic DMARD 24.0%. Mean (SD) total sum score for SQOL was 76.6 (11.3). In multivariate analysis, female sex, increased body mass index, measures reflecting disease activity (BAS-G and CRP), and current biologic treatment were independently associated with a lower SQOL. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that inflammation in patients with axSpA even in the biologic treatment era reduces SQOL.
Entities:
Keywords:
AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS; BIOLOGICAL DMARD; DISEASE ACTIVITY; SEXUAL QUALITY OF LIFE