Patient‐reported Disease Activity in an Axial Spondyloarthritis Cohort during the COVID‐19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVE: Response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has resulted in shelter‐in‐place orders and major changes to individuals’ daily lives. The impact of such stressors on disease activity in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is unclear. The aim of this study is to examine whether stress, anxiety, and depression are associated with patient‐reported disease activity, after accounting for important factors. METHODS: We administered a survey to an axSpA cohort from a single center with well‐defined demographic and disease characteristics. We included questions about job status changes, exercise, medication use, disease activity (by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI]), and psychological factors (stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety). Separate multivariable linear models examined the associations between perceived stress, anxiety, and depression with the BASDAI. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, those with higher levels of stress had a statistically significant 0.54‐point higher BASDAI, on average, compared with those with lower levels of stress (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11, 0.97). Those with higher levels of anxiety also had a statistically significant higher BASDAI, on average, compared with those with lower levels of anxiety (β: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.99). The association between depression and BASDAI was not statistically significant. We did not find differences in these associations among subgroups of age, job status, or county of residence. CONCLUSION: Individuals with axSpA with higher levels of stress and anxiety had significantly higher disease activity levels, although with a difference below clinical importance. Further planned studies will evaluate the trajectory of disease activity.