J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  1999 Oct;23(5):1028-1034.

Evaluation of Cardiopulmonary Function in the Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis Using Exercise Stress Test

• Ahn SH
• Kim YK

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cardiopulmonary function and maximal exercise capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis using exercise stress test, the possible causes of reduced maximal exercise capacity and the correlation between dynamic pulmonary function and static pulmonary funtion. METHOD: Twenty patients with ankylosing spondylitis were evaluated with incremental exercise stress test, static pulmonary function test and the mobility of thoracic cage and spine.
RESULTS
1) Nineteen patients (95%) showed reduced maximal exercise capacities. 2) Deconditioning was the most frequent cause of reduced maximal exercise capacities (13 patients, 68%). 3) There was no significant correlation between exercise stress test and static pulmonary function test, and between exercise stress test and the mobility of the spine and thoracic cage.
CONCLUSION
Maximal exercise capacities were reduced in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, and the most frequent cause of them was deconditioning. To improve exercise capacity, conditioning exercise should be emphasized in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Keyword

Cardiopulmonary function; Exercise stress test; Ankylosing spondylitis

MeSH Terms

Exercise Test*
Humans
Respiratory Function Tests
Spine
Spondylitis, Ankylosing*