The efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic disease that can cause a restrictive lung condition. Pulmonary rehabilitation increases lung capacity in patients with lung disease. In this study, we aimed to show increase in exercise capacity, decrease in dyspnea and change in quality of life with pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with AS. Objectives: In this study, we included 20 AS patients of whom admitted to our outpatient clinic. At the beginning and end of the study, patients some findings such as SFT, FEV1 values, saturations, arterial blood pressures and heart rates were recorded separately. Also, BODE index results, 6-minute walk test (MWT) values, BORG dyspnea scores, Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea scales, Anxiety Stress Scales (ASS) were examined. Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires were filled out. Methods: Patients underwent rehabilitation for 8 weeks, two days in a week at hospital and one day at home. According to their exercise tolerances in rehabilitation, patients were given upper and lower limb endurance training, strength training, flexibility and stretching exercises, balance exercises, inspiratory muscles training. Results: In our study, patients with AS showed significant improvement in MMRC, borg dyspnea scales and 6 MWT at the end of rehabilitation compared to beginning of rehabilitation (p<0.05). It is shown that there was significant improvement in the values of PEF % and FVC%, when the difference averages before and after rehabilitation were compared (p < 0.05) but there was no difference in FEV1 %, FEV1/FVC values (p > 0.05). There was also significant improvement in BASDAI-BASFI values (P=0.006, P=0.016, respectively). The bode index showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). There was significant improvement in anxiety on ASS. Only the mental parameter showed significant improvement when parameters evaluated by the SF-36 survey (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the rest of all parameters (p>0.05).