Effects of exercise on secondary outcomes. Values are shown as mean with SD unless stated otherwise
| Secondary outcomes | n | Exercise group (n=48) | Control group (n=49) | Estimated mean group difference (95% CI)* | P values | |||
| Baseline | 3 months | Baseline | 3 months | |||||
| Physical function (BASFI) | 48 | 2.9 (1.8) | 1.8 (1.4) | 49 | 3.6 (2.1) | 3.2 (2.0) | −0.9 (−1.3 to 0.4) | <0.001 |
| Spinal mobility (BASMI) | 48 | 2.9 (1.3) | 2.5 (1.2) | 47 | 2.6 (1.3) | 2.5 (1.4) | −0.3 (−0.5 to 0.06) | 0.016 |
| Inflammatory marker | ||||||||
| ESR (mm/h), median (range) | 43 | 8 (2, 67) | 8 (1, 79) | 47 | 8 (1, 29) | 8 (1, 28) | 0.066† | |
| Physical fitness | ||||||||
| Estimated VO2peak | 46 | 36.3 (5.4) | 38.8 (5.9) | 44 | 35.5 (6.6) | 35.3 (7.3) | 2.7 (1.6 to 3.8) | <0.001 |
| Max heart rate | 46 | 174 (14) | 172 (13) | 44 | 175 (14) | 173 (15) | 0.1 (−2.9 to 3.1) | 0.939 |
| Maximal effort | 46 | 19 (1) | 19 (1) | 44 | 19 (1) | 19 (1) | 0.4 (−0.1 to 0.9) | 0.111 |
| Resting heart rate | 47 | 62 (7) | 60 (10) | 48 | 63 (11) | 63 (11) | −1 (−7 to 5) | 0.747 |
| Body composition | ||||||||
| Weight | 48 | 82.2 (19.4) | 82.2 (19.1) | 48 | 84.3 (16.3) | 84.1 (16.4) | 0.2 (-0.8 to 1.1) | 0.740 |
| BMI | 48 | 27.5 (5.1) | 27.5 (5.0) | 48 | 28.7 (6.4) | 28.7 (6.4) | 0.1 (−0.3 to 0.4) | 0.677 |
| Waist circumference ‡ | 35 | 100.6 (13.3) | 99.8 (12.5) | 37 | 102.4 (13.5) | 103.2 (13.6) | −1.7 (−3.2 to 0.2) | 0.031 |
*Estimated mean group difference, analysed with analysis of covariance with adjustments for baseline values and study centre.
†Analysed with Mann-Whitney U test.
‡Only patients with an increased waist circumference at baseline are included in the analyses (males >94 cm and females >80 cm).
BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; BASMI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index; BMI, body mass index; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; VO2peak, peak oxygen uptake.