Affiliation:
1. MERSİN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to determine the rate of kinesiophobia in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and to determine the relationship between kinesiophobia and disease activity, obesity, quality of life, functional status, fatigue, and fear of falling.
Methods: The study design is a prospective study. That included 83 ankylosing spondylitis patients and 79 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Kinesiophobia was evaluated using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), disease activity with the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), functional status with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), fear of falling with the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Quality of Life Questionnaire (ASQoL), Body Mass Index (BMI). The correlation of outcome measures with kinesiophobia levels was analyzed, and all parameters were compared in patients with (TSK>37) and without kinesiophobia (TSK≤37).
Results: In AS patients, the rate of kinesiophobia was 78.3%, the mean TSK score was 43.85±9.78, while in healthy controls, the kinesiophobia rate was 17.7%, the mean TSK score was 27.07±8.46 (odds ratio (OR)=16.766, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.697-36.518; p<0.001). TSK was positively correlated with BMI, ASQoL, BASDAI, HAQ, FES-I, FSS, and BASFI (r=0.336, r=0.457, r=0.341, r=0.447, r=0.269, r=0.371, p<0.05 for each). Patients with a BMI>25, and a BASDAI> 4 had higher TSK scores (p=0.041 and p<0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: AS patients have a very high rate of kinesiophobia. Patients with obesity and high disease activity have higher levels of kinesiophobia. Detection of kinesiophobia in patients with AS, control of weight/obesity, and reduction of disease activity should be an important goal.