DETERMINANTS OF SELF-REPORTED HEALTH-STATUS IN ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS

Objective. To assess the relative contributions of disability related variables, personality traits and social network characteristics to se lf-reported general health status in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Meth ods. For 144 patients with AS (modified New York criteria; 112 men) th e following variables were assessed cross sectionally: disability rela ted variables (age, duration of disease, spinal mobility, physicians' global assessment), personality traits (neuroticism, social inadequacy , self-esteem, health locus of control) and loneliness. Health status was assessed by means of 3 self-administered instruments: Sickness Imp act Profile, Health Assessment Questionnaire for the Spondyloarthropat hies and Self-assessed Function. Results. Factor analysis of the 3 hea lth status instruments suggested one underlying health status score. T his derived health status score correlated significantly with each of the disability related variables, the personality traits and lonelines s (p < 0.05), but not with social inadequacy and physician oriented he alth control. In multiple regression analysis 4 variables contributed significantly, together explaining 44% of the total variance of the de rived health status score: neuroticism 25%, physicians' global assessm ent 8%, internal oriented health control 6% and spinal mobility 5% (p < 0.001). Conclusion. In AS, self-reported health status is more stron gly related to personality traits than to the degree of disability. Wh en assessing health status in AS by self-report, personality traits mu st be taken into account.