Prevalence of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Sample Characteristics, Ankylosing Spondylitis Activity, and Functional Disability

Age, Yr – Mean (SD)	49 (7.8)
Sex – nº. (%)
Male	17 (56.7%)
Female	13 (43.3%)
Race – nº. (%)^£
White	14 (46.7%)
Non-white	16 (53.3%)
Time Since Diagnosing of AS
Lower than 5 years	9 (30%)
5–10 years	15 (50%)
Higher than 10 years	6 (20%)
Medicine Use – nº. (%)
Etanercept	16 (53.3%)
Adalimumab	11 (36.7%)
Infliximab	3 (10%)
Positive for HLA-B27 – nº. (%)	24 (80%)
Disease Activity (BASDAI) – Median (IQR) ^β
Fatigue	8.00 (3.00)
Neck, back, and hip pain	9.00 (2.00)
Peripheral joint pain and swelling	7.00 (4.00)
Localized tenderness	8.00 (3.00)
Morning stiffness severity	8.00 (4.00)
Morning stiffness duration	5.00 (7.00)
TOTAL SCORE	7.70 (2.30)
Functional Disability (BASFI) – Median (IQR) ^β
Physical function	6.25 (2.66)
Ability to cope with everyday life	8.75 (2.50)
TOTAL SCORE	7.00 (2.63)
Functional disability (HAQ-S) – Mean (SD)^σ	1.79 (0.62)

Notes: ^£Race was self-assessed; ^βScore scale ranged from 10 (worst) to 0. ^σScore scale ranged from 3 (worst) to 0.

Table 2 Prevalence of TMD Diagnoses According to the Axis I of RDC/TMD

TMJ Subtypes	Yes n (%)
Group I: Muscle Diagnosis
Ia: Myofascial pain	10 (33.3)
Ib: Myofascial pain with limited opening	16 (53.3)
Group II: Disc Displacements on the Joint
	Right Joint Yes n (%)	Left Joint Yes n (%)
IIa: Disc displacements with reduction	16 (53.3)	18 (60)
IIb: Disc displacements without reduction, with limited opening	1 (3.3)	1 (3.3)
IIc: Disc displacements without reduction, without limited opening	0	0
Group III: Other Joint Conditions
	Right Joint Yes n (%)	Left Joint Yes n (%)
IIIa: Arthralgia	13 (43.3)	15 (50)
IIIb: Osteoarthritis	7 (23.3)	8 (26.7)
IIIc: Osteoarthrosis	3 (10)	3 (10)

Figure 1 Diagnostic distributions of the cases relative to TMJ Group I, II, and III. Group I – Muscle Diagnosis, Group II – Disc displacements on the (right and left) joint, and Group III – Other joint conditions (Arthralgia, osteoarthritis, and osteoarthrosis).

Table 3 Prevalence of Pain-Related Intensity and Disability, Psychosocial Disability, and Mandibular Functioning Limitation According to Axis II of RDC/TMD

Chronic Pain Grade^µ nº. (%)
Grade 0	3 (10%)
Grade I	2 (6.7%)
Grade II	6 (20%)
Grade III	11 (36.7)
Grade IV	8 (26.7)
Depression nº. (%)
Normal	1 (3.3%)
Moderate	11 (36.7%)
Severe	18 (60%)
Nonspecific Physical Symptoms nº. (%)
Total Scale
Severe^σ	30 (100%)
Pain Excluded nº. (%)
Severe^σ	30 (100%)
Mandibular Limitation – Mean (SD)^β	0.36 (0.19)

Notes: ^µGraded Chronic Pain Scale: grade 0, no disability; I, low disability, low intensity; II, low disability, high intensity; III, high disability, moderately limiting; IV, high disability, severely limiting. ^σThe categories normal and moderated were not included in the table due to the absence of cases. ^βThe worst value for mandibular limitation was 1.

Table 4 Prevalence of Self-Reported TMD and Sleep and Awake Bruxism/Tightness According to Axis II of RDC/TMD

Self-Reported TMD	nº. Yes (%)
Jaw locking	10 (33.3%)
Limitation in the Jaw opening	8 (26.7%)
Jaw click or pop	25 (83.3%)
Grating or grinding noise	22 (73.3%)
Noise or ringing on the ears	19 (63.3%)
Uncomfortable bite feeling	27 (90%)
Stiffness or painful jaw when waking up	22 (73.3%)
Headaches or migraines	24 (80%)
Bruxism/tightness
Grind or clench the jaw when sleep	13 (43.3%)
Grind or clench the jaw during the day	19 (63.3%)