Sleep disturbances and problems are increased in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). But much is not known in a quantitative way about sleep problems and effect of treatments on AS. This study is aimed first, to investigate sleep disturbances in AS and secondly, to evaluate the effects of anti-TNF treatment on SD in AS. One hundred seventy-one (Female/male: 90/81) AS patients fulfilling modified New York criteria and 86 (F/M: 56/30) age- and gender-matched controls without inflammatory diseases were included into the study. Demographic data and disease activity and treatments were recorded using The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Sleep Questionnaire was used for evaluating sleep and problems of sleep. AS patients had higher sleep disturbance scale (SDS) and sleep problem index (SPI) II scores. Group A (patients using NSAID and/or DMARD, 53.2% of patients) had higher BASDAI and BASFI compared with Group B (Patients using anti-TNF treatments) (4.29 ± 2.38 vs. 2.46 ± 2.32, p < 0.001; 1.95 ± 2.15 vs. 0.93 ± 1.31, p < 0.001, respectively). Whereas Group A had higher scores of SDS, awaken short of breath or headache, somnolence, and SPI-II than controls, none of the sleep parameters were statistically different between patients on anti-TNF treatments and controls. BASDAI was positively correlated with SPI-I, SPI-II, SDS, and somnolence scale. AS patients had increased sleep problems and disturbances compared with controls. Anti-TNF agents improve significantly these problems. Sleep problems are significantly correlated with the disease activity.

This descriptive study was conducted to determine the sexual satisfaction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the factors affecting same. A demographic questionnaire and the evaluation form of sexual satisfaction were completed by 33 patients. The patients' disease activity and functional condition were also evaluated with DAS28 and HAQ for RA and the BASDAI and BASFI for AS. Results indicated that the difference between patients' sexual satisfaction scores before and after onset of their disease was statistically significant. We also found that the sexual satisfaction score was low with a statistically significant difference in female RA patients, those who experienced discord with their husband due to the illness, and those who believed medication affected their sex life. It was also found that the sexual satisfaction score of RA patients was negatively correlated with DAS 28 and HAQ. In conclusion, sexual satisfaction was particularly low in RA patients. These findings certainly indicate that nurses should be aware of the patient's sexual lifestyle and functioning.

The purpose of this study was to examine the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis living in different regions and cities of Turkey as well as the factors affecting the use of CAM modalities. Planned as a descriptive and cross-sectional study, this research was conducted as a study covering the rheumatology units of 10 university and 4 state hospitals in Turkey. A total of 594 patients meeting the research inclusion criteria comprised the sample. It was detected that 46.9% (n = 279) of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis whose average disease duration was 10.32 ± 9.05 years used CAM modalities. The most common 3 modalities used by these patients were herbs taken orally, nutritional supplements, and mind-body therapies, with rates of 54.5%, 41.2%, and 40.5%, respectively. It was determined that such variables as age, sex, marital status, education status, and economic situation did not affect the use of CAM (P > .05).