Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Uveitis in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Survey-Based Study

Purpose: We investigated the clinical features and risk factors associated with the onset of uveitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Methods: A survey was conducted targeting patients with ankylosing spondylitis who have experienced uveitis. The questionnaire collected information on demographic characteristics, clinical features, and lifestyle-related risk factors for uveitis including stress, sleep quality, rest periods, eating habits, and intake of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. Respondents were asked to recall their condition at the time of their most recent uveitis flare-up and rate it on a 5-point scale (1 = good to 5 = bad).Results: The study included 47 patients with ankylosing spondylitis; the average age was 40.0 years, 68.1% were male, and 89.4% tested positive for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27. The average treatment duration for uveitis was 5.2 weeks, with an average recurrence rate of 4.5 times. The most common symptom at the time of uveitis was eye redness (87.2%). The average scores for the surveyed risk factors were as follows: stress, 4.1 points; sleep, 3.1 points; rest, 3.4 points; eating habits, 2.9 points; caffeine intake, 3.3 points; alcohol intake, 2.4 points; and smoking, 2.5 points. No significant correlation was found between age, uveitis treatment duration, number of recurrences, and any of the surveyed scores.Conclusions: Patients with ankylosing spondylitis appeared to experience higher levels of stress during episodes of uveitis; however, further investigation is needed.