Abstract Introduction: Smoking was associated with an earlier onset of back pain, higher disease
activity, worse functional status and quality of life in patients with AS.
Aim of the work: To detect the relationship between smoking and disease outcome measures in
AS patients.
Patients and methods: A total of 30 patients with disease duration of 9.6 ±5.8 years. They were
divided into 2 groups according to their smoking status, the mean age of non-smokers 11/30
patients (36.7%) and smokers 19/30 patients (63.3%) was (29 ± 8.4 years vs 34.9 ± 8.1 years
respectively) and their disease duration was (6.6 ±3.9 years vs 8.3 ±6.1 years respectively).
Results: The smokers showed longer morning stiffness duration (p= 0.02), less spinal mobility
(p= 0.02) and less chest expansion (p=0.02). Also they had a higher disease activity index (BASDAI)
(p= 0.03) and poorer quality of life index (ASQL) (p= 0.03), while there was no statistically
significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the physical activity index (BASFI)
(p= 0.07). There was a positive significant correlation between smoking duration and age
(p< 0.001, r = 0.9). Disease duration was found to be a significant independent risk factor for
the decrease of chest expansion (p= 0.04).
Conclusion: This study proved some of the adverse effects of smoking on ankylosing spondylitis
patients mainly on the domains of disease activity and quality of life. So we recommend the cessation
of smoking in every AS patient as part of the treatment plan.
2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Egyptian Society of Rheumatic Diseases.