Influence of kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis on cardiopulmonary functions

This paper aims at analyzing the characteristics of cardiopulmonary functions in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and exploring the influence of global kyphosis (GK) on cardiopulmonary functions. Clinical data of 46 patients with AS and kyphosis, who had been admitted in our hospital from October 2021 to October 2022, were analyzed retrospectively. According to the to global kyphosis (GK) angle, 23 subjects were divided into Severe Group (GK > 95°), and 23 subjects were divided into in the Moderate Group (80° ≤ GK ≤ 95°). Cardiac structure and cardiopulmonary function parameters were compared between both groups, and the influences of GK Angle on other parameters were analyzed by Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis. The cardiac structure and function measurements in both groups were within the normal range. The pulmonary functions of both groups decreased to different extents. Correlation analysis showed that GK Angle was significantly negatively correlated with the left atrioventricular size (LAD, LVDD, LVSD) and diastolic function parameters (E/A, e’/a’) in the patients with AS (P < .05); GK Angle was negatively correlated with restrictive ventilation parameters in the patients with AS (P < .05). The GK Angle of the patients with AS affects the cardiac structure and diastolic function. The larger the GK Angle is, the smaller the left and right at ventricle diameters are. In addition, GK Angle also affects the left ventricular diastolic function. GK Angle is related to the degree of pulmonary function impairment, and the larger the GK Angle is, the worse the pulmonary function it will be.