Concurrent Intervention With Exercises and Stabilized Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy Reduced the Disease Activity in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Since the use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapy is becoming wider, the effects of concurrent intervention with exercises and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are different. The study aimed to objectively evaluate whether concurrent intervention with exercises and stabilized TNF inhibitors can reduce the disease activity in patients with AS.

A search from PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library was electronically performed to collect studies which compared concurrent intervention with exercise and TNF inhibitor to conventional approach in terms of disease activity in patients with AS published from their inception to June 2015. Studies that measured the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), and chest expansion as outcomes were included. Two independent investigators screened the identified articles, extracted the data, and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. Quantitative analysis was performed with Review Manager (RevMan) software (version 5.3.0).

A total of 5 studies comprising 221 participants were included in the study. Meta-analyses showed that concurrent intervention with exercises and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy significantly reduced the BASMI scores (MD, −0.99; 95% CI, −1.61 to −0.38) and BASDAI scores (MD, −0.58; 95% CI, −1.10 to −0.06), but the BASFI scores (MD, −0.31; 95% CI, −0.76 to 0.15) was not reduced, and chest expansion (MD, 0.80; 95% CI, −0.18 to 1.78) was not increased.

Concurrent intervention with exercises and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy can reduce the disease activity in patients with AS. More randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with high-quality, large-scale, and appropriate follow-up are warranted to further establish the benefit of concurrent intervention with exercises and TNF inhibitors for this given population due to some limitations impaired the power of our study.

INTRODUCTION

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive rheumatic disease, which characterized by inflammation, ankylosis of the axial skeleton and especially sacroiliitis.¹ Previous studies indicated a strong correlation of AS and genetic marker HLA-B27.² Rather than functional impairment, there is involvement of entheses, peripheral joints and extra-articular organs, reduction of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).³ Stiffness, pain, progressive loss of spine mobility may be key contributors to physical limitations for AS patients.⁴ These symptoms may decrease the functional status and increase disease activity of AS patients. As a result, AS is an important factor to cause work disability and serious socioeconomic burden.⁵

At the present, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modified antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) always play an important role in pharmacological therapy for AS, but spinal mobility only moderately benefited from this option according to data issued previously.⁶ Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, which includes infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, and golimumab, was adopted to improve signs, symptoms, function, and spinal mobility of AS patients in short-term and up to 5 years.^7–9

Despite significant progress has been occurred in pharmacological therapy of AS, the recent Assessments of SpondyloArthritis international Society and the European League Against Rheumatism (ASAS/EULAR) recommendations emphasize that combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments should be the optimal management for it.¹⁰ A recent meta-analysis of the literature has confirmed that home-based interventions are an important part of a global therapy strategy for AS patients,¹¹ and reviews also emphasized the significance of adopting physical therapy and exercise to manage AS patients.^12,13

The ASAS/EULAR working group suggested that nonpharmacological therapy could be comprised of education, exercise, and physiotherapy, which was recommended to maintain function in patients with AS.¹⁴ Exercises seem to play an important role in management AS patients, particularly when performed in an outpatient group supervised by a physiotherapist or intensively in inpatients who showed a short-term improvement.^15,16 Nowadays, all kinds of forms of exercises such as educational sessions, supervised exercise, home-based exercise, spa, swimming, the Global Posture Reeducation method, Tai Chi, McKenzie, Heckscher, and Pilates methods,¹⁷ yoga² and so on had been embedded in rehabilitation program for AS patients.¹¹ Some studies evaluated the impact of exercises on AS patients who did not receive prescribed TNF inhibitors^17–19 and obtained consistent result that exercises improved the clinical outcomes of AS patients. TNF inhibitors have been widely used in AS patients, and some studies reported the importance of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy in AS patients.^20,21 However, only scarce studies have been performed to investigate the effects of regime of exercises plus TNF inhibitors on clinical outcomes of AS patients. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to systematically investigate the effects of regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy on AS patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Search Strategy

We aimed to explore the effects of regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy in AS patients. The research team searched 4 electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library using combinations of the terms exercise, education and exercise, Incentive Spirometer Exercise (ISE), spa therapy and rehabilitation; infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, golimumab, TNF inhibitors, and AS. We performed all analyses based on the published studies previously, and thus no ethical approval and informed consent were required.

Eligibility Criteria

Papers, which population inclusion criteria gathered adult patients with AS diagnosed by a rheumatologist were chosen. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs), in which at least 1 of the groups received the regime of exercises plus TNF inhibitors were included. Participants aged less than 18 years old or with juvenile-onset of AS were excluded. Review articles, observational studies without controls, case reports, cross-sectional studies, self-controlled studies, and commentaries were also excluded. Finally, studies that the data type was skewed distribution and the sample sizes were small and that data could not be converted were excluded.

Information Sources and Study Selection

Studies were retrieved by searching electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) from their inception to June 2015. Search terms were adapted for use with each database. Common keywords and medical subject headings (MeSH) consisted of 2 components: the condition (AS), the intervention (regime of exercise plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy). Search restrictions (English language) were imposed. Finally, a hand search of the reference lists of included studies and topic-related review were also conducted.

Two authors (Hui Liang and Wenrong Li) independently screened titles and abstracts to identify studies that potentially met the eligibility criteria. Full texts of searching were retrieved and independently assessed for eligibility by the same 2 authors (Hui Liang and Wenrong Li).

Data Extraction and Quality Assessment

Searches were conducted and data were extracted by 2 independent researchers. Each study identified in the search was evaluated for design, eligibility criteria for participants, and outcome measures. Any disagreements concerning inclusion were resolved by discussion until a consensus was achieved, and for failing agreement, a third reviewer was consulted. Duplicate studies and records were eliminated by using EndNote software and screening the titles and abstracts. All remaining were screened by examining the full text. The quality of the trials included in this study was assessed by 2 independent researchers (Hui Liang and Wenrong Li) according to the Risk of Bias tool released by Cochrane Collaboration.²²

Outcome Measures

The outcome measures of interest were BASMI, BASFI, BASDAI, and chest expansion. The characteristics of the outcome measures were showed in the study.²³

Statistical Analysis

Outcome measures were compared between participants treated with regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy group and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone group within each study. The homogeneity among trials was evaluated using P-value, and we used the fixed-effects model if there was no evidence of heterogeneity (P > 0.1), otherwise a random-effects model was used. Pooled differences in ratios or means were calculated and a 2-tailed P-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. All analyses were performed using Review Manger (RevMan) statistical software, version 5.3.0 (Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). Owing to the limited number (below 10) of studies included in each analysis, publication bias was not assessed.

RESULTS

Study Selection and Characteristics

A total of 121 trials were identified after initially literature searched (Fig. 1). Of these, because of the data type of 2 articles^24,25 was an interquartile range and the sample sizes were small, we excluded them, finally, 5 trials including 221 participants were deemed eligible for inclusion in further analyses (Table 1). Three of the eligible studies were conducted in the Italy,^26–28 1 in Turkey²⁹ and 1 in Korea.²⁰ Exercise interventions employed in these studies included home-based exercise program (HEP), education and home-based exercise, ISE, and spa therapy and rehabilitation. Participants use TNF inhibitors including Infliximab, Etanercept, Adalimumab, Golimumad for at least 3 months and they did not administrate of NSAIDs. The duration of the interventional programs ranged from 2 to 48 weeks.

FIGURE 1.

Flow chart of literature retrieval and trial selection.

TABLE 1.

Characteristics of Included Studies

BASMI

Three studies^26,27,29 involving 115 AS patients reported the BASMI after the interventions were initiated. There was no significant heterogeneity between the regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy groups and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone groups in BASMI (P = 0.86, I² = 0%). A statistically significant difference was observed (MD, −0.99; 95% CI, −1.61 to −0.38), which indicated that the regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy interventions reduced the BASMI scores compared to the stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone (Fig. 2A).

FIGURE 2.

Meta-analyses of outcomes scores between combining exercises with TNF inhibitors and the only TNF group. (A) BASMI scores. (B) BASDAI scores. (C) BASFI scores. (D) Chest expansion.

BASDAI

Four studies^20,26,27,29 involving 161 AS patients reported BASDAI after the interventions were initiated. A fixed-effects model was applied because of no significant heterogeneity between the regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone groups in BASDAI (P = 0.53, I² = 0%). A statistically significant difference was observed (MD, −0.58; 95% CI, −1.10 to −0.06), which indicated that the regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy interventions reduced the BASDAI scores relative to the stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone (Fig. 2B).

BASFI

Five studies^20,26–29 which enrolled 221 AS patients reported BASFI after the interventions were initiated. A fixed-effects model was applied because of moderate heterogeneity between the regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone groups in BASFI (P = 0.19, I² = 34%). However, no significant difference was observed (MD, −0.31; 95% CI, −0.76 to 0.15), which indicated that the regime of exercises plus TNF inhibitors interventions were not-superior to the TNF inhibitors alone on reducing the BASFI scores (Fig. 2C).

Chest Expansion

Two studies^20,27 involving 91 AS patients reported chest expansion after the interventions were initiated. A random-effects model was applied because of moderate heterogeneity between the regime of exercise plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone groups in chest expansion (P = 0.14, I² = 54%). No statistically difference was observed (MD, 0.80; 95% CI, −0.18 to 1.78). There was no statistically significant difference between the regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy interventions and the stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone groups on increasing the chest expansion (Fig. 2D).

Quality Assessment

No studies included in this study could be identified as having adequate sequence generation, 3 studies^20,26,28 illustrated the RCTs, 1 unclear²⁹ and 1 CCTs²⁷; allocation concealment and blinding were unclear and only 1 study illustrated the blinding of outcome assessment²⁰; the 3 studies^20,27,29 addressed incomplete outcome data. Furthermore, the baselines were comparable in all the studies. The quality assessment outcome was summarized in Figures 3 and 4.

FIGURE 3.

Percentage of risk of bias: authors’ judgments about percentages of each risk of bias item in all included studies.

FIGURE 4.

Risk of bias summary: authors’ judgments about each risk of bias item for each included study.

DISCUSSION

This meta-analysis found evidence that the regime of exercises combined with stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy can benefit on reducing BASMI, BASDAI and not increasing chest expansion in AS patients compared to stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone, For BASFI scores, the total pooled existing moderate heterogeneity (P = 0.19, I² = 34%), and there was no significant effect of the regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy (MD, −0.31; 95% CI, −0.76 to 0.15). We found that there were 2 studies^27,28 suggested the intervention group was superior to the control on BASFI scores. Masiero et al²⁷ found at 6 weeks and 12 months, compared with the other 2 groups, the supervised training and home-based rehabilitation group exhibited a significant reduction in BASFI. Colina et al's study²⁸ showed a statistically significant difference in favor of combining etanercept with an intensive rehabilitation. Clinical and methodology homogeneity are key factors to rational pooled results of meta-analysis. Clinical homogeneity refers to participants and methodology homogeneity refers to research protocol design, statistical methods design, and interventions.³⁰ A comprehensive analysis of the studies found that the exercise intervention methods are different, especially for the one study,²⁰ hence, methodological heterogeneity might exist in the trial.

Five studies are exercises and stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy, but the exercise interventions still were a little bit different. For example, 2 studies were home-based exercises, in which 1 study was that the intervention group (included educational-behavioral meetings and exercise-training part developed by the interdisciplinary team), while the control group did not take part in any exercise training, only continued standard biological therapy²⁷; for the regime of exercises of the other study according to the study by Uhrin et al,³¹ patients following HEP (exercise group) were compared with those exercising less than exercise group (control group),²⁹ and the subjects of the 2 studies were eligible to participate in the program that they were receiving TNF-α inhibitors at least 9 months and 3 months, respectively. Two studies used spa rehabilitation exercises, in 1 study the intensive rehabilitation program was conducted in a thermal baths center²⁸; the other study the patients in the study group underwent 10 sessions of spa therapy and rehabilitation over a 2 weeks period.²⁶ In one study the intervention group combined incentive spirometer and conventional exercises (ISE and CE), the control group patients used the CE regimen consisted of 20 exercises for 30 minutes once a day.²⁰ Therefore, future studies should focus on the same exercise intervention method.

The primary aim of exercise treatment is to avoid stiffening in a flexed position and to maintain or improve functional capacity and reduce the disease activity. The long-term goal is the maintenance of a good posture.³² In the trials analyzed, the exercise was associated with a statistically significant improvement on spinal mobility (BASMI) and daily activities (BASDAI) in our study. A statistically significant improvement in quality of life (QoL) expressed by Short Form 36(SF-36),²⁹ Health Assessment Questionnaire,²⁶ and EuroQol-5Dimensions²⁸ was found in our included studies. In addition, our included studies evaluated the pain results using VAS in one study,²⁶ fatigue results using Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue Scale in 1 study,²⁹ the level of morning stiffness in 1 study,²⁷ the pulmonary function test, 6-minute walk distance and finger to floor distance.²⁰ Symptoms such as pain, fatigue, depression, and stiffness would influence the QoL of AS patients. Therefore, exercises have positive effects in improving QoL, which should always be included between the outcomes of exercise treatment,^4,33 so future studies should increase the outcomes of exercise.

The success obtained with TNF inhibitors does not excluded the need for physical therapy or exercise,³⁴ which plays an important role in AS patients’ management and in the era of biological drugs.¹⁰ Since this association seemed to be more effective than a single exercise program, a synergistic role between biological drugs and exercise might in fact be hypothesized, although the mechanisms of the combination treatment function are not clear yet. We found that a combination treatment including rehabilitation and etanercept versus rehabilitation only, the combination treatment seems to improve function, disability, and QoL in patients with active AS.³⁵ Therefore, TNF inhibitors therapy may be also important for AS patients.

Strengths, Limitations, and Future Research

To our knowledge, to date, 2 articles^12,13 had systematically examined the effect of the regime of exercises combined with stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy interventions in AS patients, but they were only systematic reviews. Therefore, we firstly used a meta-analysis to systematically investigate the effect of regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy compared to stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone, although exercise is frequently advised as part of their managements. However, there are a number of limitations to this meta-analysis that should be acknowledged. Firstly, perhaps the most notably, only a small number of studies met the inclusion criteria, thus reducing the power of the analyses. Meanwhile, the publication bias test was not conducted due to insufficient number of eligible studies for each outcome, thus the pooled results will be negatively affected if small sample size effect existed. Secondly, the inclusion of only English-language literature may also have restricted the number of available relevant articles, at the same time, there are only 3 RCT studies, existence of publication bias for studies was included, and had a negative effect on the pooled results of current meta-analyses. Thirdly, the exercise intervention forms are different. Finally, randomized controlled trials investigating the short- and long-term benefits of combining stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy with rehabilitation in early, but in our included studies we selected the intervention time did not exceeding four months, only 1 study followed up 12 months, hence, the follow-up time would increase. Therefore, we hope future studies with a multicentered and large-scale sample, adequate follow-up, similar exercise duration, frequency and methods, and randomized methodology to draw conclusions about the effect of the regime of exercises combined with stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy in AS patients.

CONCLUSION

The findings do suggest that the regime of exercises combined with stabilized TNF inhibitor therapy may be more effective on reducing BASMI and BASDAI of AS than stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy alone. Insufficient high-quality evidence is available in the current literature regarding the effects of the regime of exercise plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy for the QoL with AS patients. Hence, the findings from the current meta-analyses are by no means definitive. So, the RCTs with high quality and large-scale and adequate follow-up are needed to further clarify the effectiveness of the regime of exercises plus stabilized TNF inhibitors therapy for AS patients.