The impact of osteoporosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and its relationship to physical activity

Abstract EN

Background : Osteoporosis (OP) is a major fracture risk in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and there are few qualitative reports on bone mass in AS.

Objective : The aim of this study was to correlate the bone mineral density (BMD) with disease activity and physical activity (PA) in AS.

Materials and Methods : Sixty-two participants who met the criteria for diagnosis of AS (28 males and 34 females) were recruited from Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital Baghdad, Iraq.

The study was conducted at baseline and after 6 months of exercises.

European healthrelated quality of life was used to reflect physical function.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were used to evaluate AS disease as markers for disease activity.

The study measured BMD at two events, before and after performing the relevant exercise.

Results : Results found that 9.6% of patients reported fractures.

Low bone mass in the AS patients were 17 (27 %) in number.

Osteopenic patients were 9 (14 % ) in number, while osteoporotic patients were 8 (13 %) in number.

An association (P = 0.05) between BMD and PA was noticed in AS participants.

There was a weak (P ˂ 0.055) significant association of higher European health-related quality of life scores with lower spinal and hip BMD.

No association of AS disease activity with BMD was found, although bone loss in AS is common in persistent active disease ; regular PA seems to be a positive factor for improving bone quantity and prevent fracture.

Programmed exercise promotes healthy bone.

The severity of AS in Iraq is less than the other countries.

Conclusion : PA in AS patients has a positive effect on bone status.

This implies that AS disease-related loss in BMD is preventable by the relevant exercise program.

This information is important, as it can be utilized while designing preventive and treatment plans for AS patients.