Smoking was associated with an earlier onset of back pain, higher disease activity, worse functional status and quality of life in patients with AS.
Aim of the work
To detect the relationship between smoking and disease outcome measures in AS patients.
Patients and methods
A total of 30 patients with disease duration of 9.6 ± 5.8 years. They were divided into 2 groups according to their smoking status, the mean age of non-smokers 11/30 patients (36.7%) and smokers 19/30 patients (63.3%) was (29 ± 8.4 years vs 34.9 ± 8.1 years respectively) and their disease duration was (6.6 ± 3.9 years vs 8.3 ± 6.1 years respectively).
Results
The smokers showed longer morning stiffness duration (p = 0.02), less spinal mobility (p = 0.02) and less chest expansion (p = 0.02). Also they had a higher disease activity index (BASDAI) (p = 0.03) and poorer quality of life index (ASQL) (p = 0.03), while there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the physical activity index (BASFI) (p = 0.07). There was a positive significant correlation between smoking duration and age (p r = 0.9). Disease duration was found to be a significant independent risk factor for the decrease of chest expansion (p = 0.04).
Conclusion
This study proved some of the adverse effects of smoking on ankylosing spondylitis patients mainly on the domains of disease activity and quality of life. So we recommend the cessation of smoking in every AS patient as part of the treatment plan.
Keywords
Ankylosing spondylitis
Smoking
BASDI
BASFI
ASQL
Peer review under responsibility of Egyptian Society of Rheumatic Diseases.
