Vol. 10, Issue 4 (2024)

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic progressive rheumatic disorder with various prevalence rates. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis commonly present with shoulder pain.
Aim of the study: It is to study the prevalence of shoulder pain in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and its relation to standardized disability measures.
Patients and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the Inpatient Clinic of Rheumatology Unit-Baghdad Teaching Hospital/Medical Complex in Baghdad City-Iraq for the period of six months from1st of December, 2021 till 31st of May, 2022. On a sample of 150 patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The ankylosing spondylitis was diagnosed according to modified New York criteria, and the shoulder pain was diagnosed according to diagnostic criteria for disorders of the shoulder-the Southampton examination schedule.
Results: The shoulder pain was present in 53 of ankylosing spondylitis patients (35.3%), mainly bilateral in 25 patients (47.2%) and less common right side shoulder pain in 20 patients (37.7%). There was a highly significant association between a longer duration of ankylosing spondylitis and shoulder pain (P=0.001). A highly significant association was observed between high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and shoulder pain (p<0.001). There was a highly significant association between the involvement of other peripheral joints and shoulder pain (p<0.001). The means of BASDAI and BASFI scores were significantly higher among ankylosing spondylitis patients with shoulder pain compared to those without shoulder pain (p<0.001).
Conclusions: The prevalence of shoulder pain in Iraqi patients with ankylosing spondylitis was high. BASDAI and BASFI scores were significantly higher among AS patients with shoulder pain. A special attention to the shoulder joint is warranted during the clinical assessment of patients with this disease.