A comparison of the clinical characteristics and quality of life of male and female patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

• Published in: International immunopharmacology 2023-10, Vol.123, p.110627-110627, Article 110627
• Main Author: Unal Enginar, Ayse
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Axial spondyloarthritis; Female; Male; Nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis; Quality of life; Sex differences
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110627

•The duration of disease and time to diagnosis were longer,•BASDAI and MASES scores were higher,•Peripheral arthritis was determined at a higher rate in females with nr-axSpA than in male patients. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and quality of life of male and female patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nraxSpA) to determine the differences and similarities. The study included 100 patients, comprising 50 males and 50 females, aged 18–65 years, who presented at the Rheumatology Clinic and were diagnosed with nr-axSpA according to the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria. The data of patient age, gender, body mass index, disease duration, and drugs used were recorded. Disease activity was evaluated with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), mobility with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), functional status with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), enthesitis with the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), and quality of life with the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL). The patients with nr- axSpA were separated into groups as male and female, and the demographic and clinical data were compared. The mean age of female patients was determined to be statistically significantly higher than that of the male patients (39.04 ± 0.70 vs. 34.28 ± 9.26 years, p:0.014). A statistically greater number of male patients were smokers (p:0.007). The disease duration and time since diagnosis were determined to be significantly longer in females than in males (p:0.029, p:0.004). Peripheral arthritis was determined at a significantly higher rate in females (p