Balance Impairment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

This study aims to investigate the effects of the most common rheumatic diseases on postural balance related to vestibular function. Seventy-eight participants grouped as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) (n=34, 43%), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) (n=24, 30.7%), and the control group consisted of healthy individuals (n=20, 25.6%). The cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMP) test, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was applied to all three groups. The results were compared.