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Depression more likely in patients with AS, axSpA and high disease activity
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis or axial spondyloarthritis who showed high disease activity were at higher risk for depression and anxiety, according to results from a study of patients in Turkey.
Researchers studied 316 patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) classified as either non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who were recruited from the Erciyes Spondyloarthritis Cohort. Patients were evaluated using laboratory tests, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), VAS for pain, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life questionnaire (ASQoL) and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-CRP (ASDAS-CRP). Demographic information such as age, sex and education level was also collected.
To assess psychological distress, patients were administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Statistical analysis revealed patients with a high risk for depression and anxiety had higher BASDAI, BASFI and ASDAS-CRP scores and poorer VAS pain and ASQoL scores. Patients with a high risk for depression were more likely to be women in the nr-axSpA group (58.3%) compared, whereas patients with a higher risk for depression in the AS group were more likely to be men (72.2%), according to the researchers.
Multivariate logistical regression models showed ASDAS-CRP, ASQoL BASDAI and level of education were independent risk factors for depression, whereas ASQoL and education level were associated with anxiety. No significant differences were seen in the risk for depression between patients with AS or patients with axSpA, according to the researchers. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.