[The relationship between pulmonary function and exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with ankylosing...

Ankylosing spondylitis causes restrictive respiratory disorder by limiting the expansion of the chest because of the costosternal and costovertebral joints. Our study is planned to evaluate the respiratory functions of the ankylosing spondylitis patients who have a high rate of pulmonary involvement, and to compare the results with the exercise capacity and life quality of these patients.

There were 27 (18 male, 9 female) Norvegian patients who came to Turkey and had ankylosing spondylitis diagnose according to Modified New York criterias, to have a routine physical therapy and rehabilitation programme with an average age of 50.6 ± 6.6 years. The patients' clinical histories were taken. Pulmonary function tests were performed with spirometry and pulmonary muscle strength was measured with mouth pressure measure. 6 minute walk test was performed to determine exercise capacity and Short Form-36 Life Quality Questionairre was used to evaluate life quality of the patients.

The patients had 18.85 ± 10.64 average diagnose duration and the expected FEV1 value of the patients was 3.75 ± 0.88 L/sec, FEV1/FVC ratio was 80.44 ± 6.42, MIP was 62.96 ± 20.61 and MEP was 80.22 ± 21.12. 40.7% of the patients had positive smoking history while 14.8 % had dyspnea and 11.1% had symptoms of caughing-sputum. Walking distance was 595.50 ± 83.20 metre. Life quality category scores were 42.82 ± 16.78 minimally, 83.58 ± 23.06 maximally. Pulmonary function and pulmonary muscle strength values were similar in smoking and non-smoking patients. But in smoking patients, physical function and social function categories of quality of life survey scores were found lower than non-smoking patients.

Respiratory and other parameters were high related to high standarts in treatment and following and exercise habit of the patients in Norway. Accordingly, it is thought that an appropriate medical treatment and exercise as a lifestyle habits of the patients reduce the negative effects of ankylosing spondylitis on respiratory system.