Pulmonary Function, Aerobic Capacity and Related Variables in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ayla ÇAĞLIYAN TÜRK1, Sertaç ARSLAN2, Yusuf KARAVELİOĞLU3, Macit KALCIK3, Sumru ÖZEL1, Ahmet MUSMUL4, Füsun ŞAHİN5
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Çorum, Turkey
2Department of Chest Diseases, Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Çorum, Turkey
3Department of Cardiology, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Çorum, Turkey
4Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Vocational School of Health Services Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
5Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey
Keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, pulmonary function test, quality of life
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the cardiopulmonary functions and exercise performance of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to investigate the relationship between these parameters and disease activity, spine mobility and quality of life (QoL).
Patients and methods: Forty-five patients with AS (group 1; 33 males, 12 females; mean age 43.1±12.1 years; range 22 to 70 years) and 30 control subjects (group 2; 23 males, 7 females; mean age 42.8±10.0; range 23 to 70 years) were included in the study. Disease activity was assessed with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and spinal mobility measures with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI). The Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Questionnaire and the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) were used. The pulmonary function test (PFT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were performed.
Results: There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 in terms of mean age. The peak expiratory flow value in PFT was significantly lower in group 1 (p<0.05). In group 1, the duration of CPET was significantly shorter, and maximum work load and metabolic equivalent were significantly lower than in group 2 (p<0.001). Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) in peak responses, work and heart rate were significantly lower in group 1. The duration of CPET and maximum work were negatively correlated with age and BASMI (p<0.001). VO2max was negatively correlated with age, MASES and ASQoL (p<0.05).
Conclusion: There was no significant difference in PFT parameters between the groups. On the other hand, CPET parameters were significantly lower in the AS group. While CPET parameters are affected by spinal mobility, declining aerobic capacity affects QoL.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.