The Relationship Between Diagnosis and Severity of Axial Spondyloarthritis and Overactive Bladder: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to evaluate the frequency of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) and its relationship with disease activity in patients diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

METHODS

The study included 127 axSpA patients and 110 healthy individuals meeting age and gender criteria were included in the study. The demographic data, laboratory results, and clinical parameters of the groups were recorded and compared. axSpArelated disease activity was assessed with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), functional status with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), quality of life with the AS Quality of Life Questionnaire (ASQoL), and OAB-related symptoms with the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire Version 8 (OAB-V8).

RESULTS

In the axSpA patient group, the incidence of OAB was 34.6% (n = 44), the mean and standard deviation OAB-V8 score was 8 ± 11, while in the control group it was 10.9% (n = 12) and the mean and standard deviation score was 4 ± 5 (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). According to BASDAI, ASDAS-C-reaktive protein (ASDAS-CRP), and ASDAS-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ASDAS-ESR) results, the differences in OAB-V8 scores between the patients with high and low disease activity were found to be significant (p = 0.007, p = 0.039, p = 0.013). A significant difference was found in ASDAS-ESR (p = 0.04), BASDAI (p = 0.003), and BASFI (p = 0.01) scores between patients with OAB symptoms compared to those without OAB symptoms. A significant correlation was observed between the patients' OAB-V8 score and BASDAI (p < 0.001), ASDAS-CRP (p < 0.001), ASDAS-ESR (p < 0.001), BASFI (p < 0.001) scores. It was determined that the quality of life of axSpA patients with OAB symptoms was negatively affected (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of OAB was higher in axSpA patients than in the control group and showed significant associations with disease activity, functional impairment, and quality of life parameters.