Comparison of clinical, demographic characteristics and quality of life of patients with axial spondyloarthropathy and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy

Axial spondyloarthropathy includes a chronic inflammatory disease with predominant involvement of the spine and sacroiliac joints. The aim of our study is to compare the clinical features, demographic data, ,and quality life of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). A total of 116 individuals over the age of 18 were included in our study, including 58 patients with a diagnosis of AS and 58 patients with a diagnosis of nr-axSpA. Demographic data of the patients, duration of morning stiffness, HLA (Human leukocyte antigen)-B27 status, enthesitis, dactylitis, peripheral arthritis, uveitis history, presence of psoriasis, and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were recorded. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scale was used to evaluate disease activity, The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) was used to evaluate the functional capacity of the patients, and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire(ASQoL) was used to evaluate its effect on quality of life. There was no statistically significant difference between the two patient groups in terms of demographic data. VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), BASDAI, BASFI, and ASQoL scores of the Nr-axSpA group were found to be higher than the AS group (p=0.001, p<0.001, p=0.009, p=0.013; respectively). HLA (Human leukocyte antigen)-B27 positivity was found to be similar in the two groups (p=0.94). While enthesitis was more common in the AS group; The two groups were similar in terms of uveitis, dactylitis, psoriasis, peripheral arthritis, and history of IBD (p=0.024, p=0.087, p=0.309, p=0.342, p=0.837, p= 0.729; respectively). In conclusion, it was observed that the demographic characteristics of patients with AS and nr-axSpA were similar, and disease activity and quality of life were higher in patients with nr-axSpA. Although it is debate that nr-axSpA may be considered as the early stage of AS and that these patients may have a significant disease burden. Keywords: ankylosing spondylitis, disease activity, spondyloarthropathy, quality of life