EFFECT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS AND MOOD IN INDIVIDUALS WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS

Year 2025, Volume: 6 Issue: 3, 235 - 241, 25.11.2025

Esra Erpek , Dilek Solmaz , Elif Durak Ediboğlu , Eda Otman , Servet Akar

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate changes in physical activity levels, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and alterations in eating behaviors among patients with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) during the COVID-19 quarantine period, and to explore the relationship of these factors with disease activity.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted at a tertiary rheumatology outpatient clinic. Participants were contacted via telephone between November and December 2020 and completed a structured questionnaire.

Results: A total of 204 patients with AxSpA who had been followed in the rheumatology outpatient clinic in the year preceding the pandemic, along with 106 of their first-degree relatives as controls, were included in the study. Weight gain was reported by 30% of AxSpA patients (mean 4.5±2.4 kg) and 37% of controls (mean 4.4±3.4 kg). Approximately half of the patients experienced a reduction in physical activity levels. A weak negative correlation was observed between the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and total activity scores on the Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (SQUASH). Additionally, a significant proportion of patients reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, both of which were found to be significantly associated with disease activity. Regarding eating behaviors, low-level correlations were identified between anxiety scores and both uncontrolled and emotional eating scores.

Conclusions: During the pandemic period, AxSpA patients were affected by multiple lifestyle changes such as weight gain and reduced physical activity. These lifestyle alterations were found to be associated with disease activity and functional status.

Keywords

AxSpA , physical activity , mood , eating habits , COVID-19 , quarantine

COVID-19 KARANTİNASININ AKSİYAL SPONDİLOARTRİTLİ BİREYLERDE DAVRANIŞSAL ALIŞKANLIKLAR VE RUH HALİ ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

Abstract

Giriş: Bu çalışmada, COVID-19 karantina sürecinde aksiyal spondiloartrit (AxSpA) hastalarının fiziksel aktivite düzeylerinde meydana gelen değişiklikleri, anksiyete ve depresyon belirtilerini, yeme davranışlarındaki farklılıkları ve bunların hastalık aktivitesi ile olan ilişkisini incelemek amaçlanmıştır.

Yöntemler: Bu çalışma, üçüncü basamak bir romatoloji polikliniğinde gerçekleştirilen kesitsel gözlemsel bir araştırmadır. Katılımcılara Kasım–Aralık 2020 tarihleri arasında telefon yoluyla ulaşılarak yapılandırılmış bir anket formu uygulanmıştır.

Bulgular: Çalışmaya, pandemi öncesindeki son bir yıl içinde romatoloji polikliniğinde izlenen 204 AxSpA hastası ve onların 106 birinci derece yakını kontrol grubu olarak dahil edilmiştir. AxSpA hastalarının %30’u ortalama 4,5±2,4 kg, kontrol grubunun ise %37’si ortalama 4,4±3,4 kg ağırlık artışı bildirmiştir. Hastaların yaklaşık yarısının fiziksel aktivite düzeyinde azalma gözlenmiştir. Bath Ankilozan Spondilit Hastalık Aktivite İndeksi (BASDAI) ve Fonksiyonel İndeksi (BASFI) ile SQUASH-toplam aktivite skorları arasında zayıf düzeyde negatif korelasyon saptanmıştır. Ayrıca, hastaların önemli bir kısmında anksiyete ve depresyon belirtileri gözlenmiş; her iki durum da hastalık aktivitesi ile anlamlı şekilde ilişkili bulunmuştur. Yeme alışkanlıkları açısından, kontrolsüz ve duygusal yeme skorları ile anksiyete skorları arasında düşük derecede korelasyon saptanmıştır.

Sonuç: Pandemi döneminde, AxSpA hastaları kilo alımı ve azalan fiziksel aktivite gibi birden fazla faktörden etkilermiştir. Değişen yaşam alışkanlıkları, hastalık aktivitesi ve fonksiyon ile ilişkilendirilmiştir.

Keywords

AxSpA , fiziksel aktivite , ruh hali , beslenme alışkanlıkları , covid-19 , karantina

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