Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Scale (BASDAI), and function measured with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Secondary outcomes

© 2013 The Authors. doi: 10.2340/16501977-1078 Journal Compilation © 2013 Foundation of Rehabilitation Information. ISSN 1650-1977 Objective: To evaluate the mean overall effects over a 1-year period of a multidisciplinary in-patient rehabilitation programme for patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Design: Observer-blinded, randomized controlled trial, with assessments made after 4 and 12 months. Patients: Forty-six patients received a 3-week in-patient rehabilitation programme and 49 patients received treatment as usual. Methods: Primary outcomes were disease activity measured with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Scale (BASDAI), and function measured with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Secondary outcomes included well-being, spinal and hip mobility, and healthrelated quality of life measured with the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36. Overall treatment effects were estimated with Mixed models repeated measures analyses. Results: Significant overall treatment effects in favour of the rehabilitation group were found in the BASDAI score (mean difference over the 1-year period –10.0, 95% confidence interval: –3.7 to –16.3), in well-being (–7.3, 95% confidence interval: –1.0 to –14.7), and in the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 variables social functioning, role physical, role mental and bodily pain (mean differences ranging from 5.8 (pain) to 10.7 (role physical)). Conclusion: A 3-week in-patient rehabilitation programme had positive overall effects on disease activity, pain, function and well-being, and should be considered an important complement to medical disease management in persons with ankylosing spondylitis.