Disease Activity, Physical Function Associated With Worse Quality of Life in axSpA

Disease activity and physical function are significantly associated with health-related quality of life among patients with axial spondyloarthritis, according to a recent study.

“We aimed to identify determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and global functioning and health (GH) in axial SpA (axSpA), peripheral SpA (pSpA) and (PsA),” the investigators wrote in Rheumatology.

ASAS-perSpA Study data were analyzed for 4185 patients, including 2719 with axSpA, as well as 433 with peripheral spondyloarthritis (SpA) and 1033 with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

“Models for the 3 patient groups were run separately to explore factors associated with HRQoL and GH, assessed by EQ-5D and ASAS-HI, respectively,” the authors explained.

In axSpA, worse HRQoL was associated with disease activity, physical function, female sex, and fibromyalgia. These same factors, along with peripheral disease, were also associated with GH. Age and university education were associated with better HRQoL and GH.

For patients with pSpA or PsA, disease activity and physical function were associated with worse HRQoL. In addition, PsA HRQol was associated with axial disease and female sex.

These findings, the authors concluded, highlight  “the importance of a holistic approach for individual patients” with axSpA and other inflammatory arthritidities.

Reference:

Santos H, Henriques AR, Machado PM, et al. Determinants of health-related quality of life and global functioning and health in axSpA, pSpA and PsA: results from the ASAS-PerSpA study.  Rheumatology. 2024;63(7):1938–1948