Features of the course of ankylosing spondylitis depending on the psychosocial status and duration of the disease

Purpose: to study the influence of psychosocial indicators and duration of the disease on the quality of life (QL), anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders (ADSD) and clinical and laboratory activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Materials and methods: the study involved 112 patients with AS. The author assessed clinical and laboratory activity of the disease, QOL (SF-36), the presence of ADSD (using the Taylor, Hamilton, and Spielberger scales), and autonomic disorders depending on the duration of the disease and the level of education. Results: in most patients with AS, signs of ADSD were detected, while in persons with higher education (HE), ADSD were significantly more common, and they had a higher level of anxiety and depression. Patients with HE have lower vital activity, the ability to adapt to social functioning, and an indicator of mental health. The study of the effect of AS duration on QL allowed the author to establish an association between an increase in AS duration and a decrease in the indicator of the psychological component of health. Conclusions: male patients with a higher level of education, who are characterized by lower indicators of QOL, mainly psychological health, have a greater tendency to develop ADSD. An increase in the duration of AS disease does not affect the development of ADSD. With the duration of AS for over 10 years, the indicators of the psycho-emotional and physical components of QOL decrease. There is a tendency in the increase in anxiety and depression levels, antioxidant protection factors are getting exhausted, inflammatory activity progresses, and personal perception of pain intensifies.