Influence of Disease Acceptance on the Quality of Life of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis – Single Centre Study

INTRODUCTION: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive disease, often with multiple complications, with periods of exacerbation and remission. The onset of the disease usually affects people under 30 years of age. The disease impairs physical, psychological, and social functioning, leading to disability. Therefore, patients with AS face the challenge of adapting to life with the condition and deteriorating quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of disease acceptance on quality of life in patients with AS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in the Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases of the University Hospital in Wrocław among 110 patients (67 men and 43 women) with the diagnosis of AS, aged 20–89 years (M=48.44 years, SD±12.55). The study used the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), the WHOQoL-BREF Quality of Life Scale, and a self-constructed questionnaire of clinical and sociodemographic data. RESULTS: Respondents rated the quality of life as good and moderate (M = 3.49 points, SD=±0.84). The mean AIS score was 27.44 (SD=±8.67). AIS scores are positively correlated with all QoL domains and perception of quality of life and health (p<0.001). The strongest correlation was in the physical domain (r=0.71), while the weakest correlation was observed in the social domain (r=0.329). AIS and QoL measures showed significant relationships with selected sociodemographic data (eg, gender, age, education, and occupational activity) and correlated with selected disease data (eg, type of treatment used, duration of disease, or comorbidities). CONCLUSION: AIS in patients with AS condition correlated positively with their QoL in all domains. Both disease acceptance and quality of life are influenced by specific sociodemographic and disease-related data. Prevention of complications and the type of treatment for AS (primarily biological treatment) can be essential in improving patients’ quality of life.