Article

Although flexibility traditionally has been the main focus for
physical therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), there is now
evidence for an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in this group.
The purposes of this study were: (1) to compare physical fitness
(cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular capacity, flexibility, and balance) in
patients with AS and controls and (2) to explore associations between physical
fitness and disease activity in the patient group. This was a
cross-sectional study. METHODS: The physical fitness variables were
cardiorespiratory fitness (treadmill test for estimation of peak oxygen uptake
[V(O(2))peak]), muscular capacity (push-ups test), balance (30-second single-leg
stand and walking in a figure-of-eight pattern), and flexibility (Bath Ankylosing
Spondylitis Metrology Index [BASMI]). The Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity
Score (ASDAS) was used to assess disease activity. Group differences and
associations were tested with the chi-square test for categorical variables, the
Mann-Whitney U test for ordinal variables, and analysis of covariance for
continuous variables. RESULTS: One hundred forty-nine of 250 of the invited
patients with AS and 133 of 329 of the invited controls were included in the
study. The mean ASDAS score of the patient group was 2.3 (range=0.5-4.7), and the
median disease duration was 23 years (range=7-55). The patient group had
significantly lower V(O(2)) peak values, with a mean difference of -2.7
mL.kg(-1).min(-1) (95% confidence interval=-4.3, -1.1), and higher BASMI scores,
with a mean difference of 1.6 (95% confidence interval=1.5, 1.8), compared with
the control group. No group differences were found in balance or muscular
capacity. In the patient group, significant inverse associations were found
between ASDAS scores and V(O(2))peak and muscular capacity. LIMITATIONS: The
response rate was lower in the control group (40.4%) than in the patient group (59.6%). CONCLUSION: The lower cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced flexibility
in the AS group indicate that physical therapy programs should include
cardiorespiratory fitness exercises as a basic component to reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease.

Langue : ANGLAIS