This week, we bring you three more studies regarding AS with links to the abstracts.

First, "Impact of ankylosing spondylitis on work and family life: Comparisons with the US population" was published on March 27, 2008, in the journal, Arthritis Care & Research. The study authors include SAA medical board members John D. Reveille, MD, Michael M. Ward, MD, and Michael Weisman, MD.

In examining the impact of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) on work disability, nonparticipation in the labor force, marriage, divorce, and childbearing, the study found that, "Patients with AS in this study were more likely to have never been married, more likely to be divorced, and more than twice as likely to be work disabled than members of the general population. Women with AS were also less likely to have had children than women in the general population."

You can read the study abstract by clicking here.

Next, a study in the journal, Current Opinion in Rheumatology, "Does physical therapy still have a place in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis?", finds that despite advances in medicinal treatments in AS, physical therapy including proper posture and home exercise should be part of a treatment regimen. Physicians should share this information with patients, as well as be informed as to what is most beneficial in terms of exercise.

The study's abstract, published in May 2008, is available here.

Third, "Ankylosing spondylitis: an Australian experience" was published in the Internal Medicine Journal in May 2008 as well. It found that the average delay in diagnosis of AS is still high, 8.1 years on average. It also found that, "Those with long-standing AS had similar disease activity to recent onset disease but had greater functional disability. Current smoking was associated with worse outcomes…"

You can read the study abstract by clicking here.

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