Background. The main objective of this study is to understand the burden of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), to identify the aspects of health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with AS and compare them with the control group (CG), to explore the factors influencing the QoL.

Methods. 65 patients with AS and 67 CG patients participated in this study matching by age, sex and education. The interview comprised socio-demographic questions, the range of disease duration, number of patients with peripheral arthritis, uveitis, comorbidities. The Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), the Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), the Bath ankylosing spondylitis global health index (BASG) have been translated, adapted and used in this study. Finally, both groups were asked to fill in the SF-36 as generic QoL instrument. Disease duration time (6.7 years) in AS group was more than twice shorter than time duration of complaints (16 years). More than one third of the patients had uveitis and more than half of them had arthritis.

Results. QoL on all the scales of the SF-36, especially in physical health-related QoL, was significantly worse than in the CG. Disease-specific instruments – BASFI, BASDAI, BASG and pain – were significantly associated with the component of physical and mental health related QoL.

Conclusion. AS influences the subjective health of the affected person; especially the physical health related QoL. BASFI, BASDAI, BASG and pain are significantly associated with SF-36 physical and mental domains in patients with AS.

Keywords: ankylosing spondylitis; quality of life; physical component summary, mental component summary