AUTHOR=Cortes-Rodríguez Antonio , Alves-Gomes Lisa , Losa-Iglesias Marta Elena , Gómez-Salgado Juan , Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo Ricardo , Saavedra-García Miguel Ángel , Montiel-Luque Alonso , López-López Daniel , Jiménez-Cebrián Ana María 

TITLE=Impact of ankylosing spondylitis on foot health and quality of life: an observational case–control study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1355803

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1355803

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease. This condition primarily affects the axial skeleton and presents direct foot involvement, such as Achilles enthesitis or plantar fascia involvement.
Objective: To investigate the impact of foot health on the quality of life related to individuals with AS compared to a control group without AS.
Materials and Methods: A sample of 112 subjects was recruited, with a mean age of 46.80 ± 10.49 years, divided into two groups: 56 individuals with AS (cases) and 56 without AS (controls). Demographic data were collected, and the scores obtained in the Foot Health Status Questionnaire domains were recorded.
Results: Of the participants, 27.79% (N=30) were males and 73.21% (N=82) were females. The mean age in the group was 46.80 ± 10.49. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the domains of foot function, foot pain, footwear, overall foot health, general health-related physical activity, and social capacity between the AS group and the control group.
Conclusions: Individuals with AS exhibited a decreased quality of life as indicated by their Foot Health Status Questionnaire scores.