Factors associated with dietary practices and beliefs on food of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate dietary practices and beliefs of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and associated factors. METHODS: In 2019-2020, a cross-sectional multicentre study enrolled patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) (rheumatoid arthritis [RA], axial spondyloarthritis [axSpA]) or hand osteoarthritis (HOA) from secondary- and tertiary-care centres. A self-administered questionnaire explored dietary practices and patients' perceived effects of diet, foods and beverages on symptoms. Univariable and multivariable analyses investigated factors associated with diets and patients' views. RESULTS: Of 448 included patients, data for 392 were analysed (123 with RA, 161 with axSpA, 108 with HOA), 26% were on or had been on at least one exclusion diet (mostly cow's milk- and gluten-free diets in IA, mostly cow's milk-free diet and detox/fasting in HOA). Only 5% of patients followed the Mediterranean diet. Among patients who had tried a diet, 51% reported a decrease in pain. Overall, 42% of patients identified at least one food or beverage that increased or decreased pain. On multivariable analyses, dieting or the perceived effect of food on pain was associated with health beliefs (positive or negative), the use of complementary and alternative medicines, and lack of support or information from healthcare professionals. Patients had received little dietary information from their physicians. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into patients' dietary practices and factors associated with these practices, including patients' health beliefs and insufficient support by health professionals, in RMDs.

Diagnosis challenges in inception cohorts in axial spondyloarthritis: the case of the French national DESIR cohort.

BACKGROUND: Inception cohorts aim to describe chronic diseases from diagnosis and over years of follow-up. Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) diagnosis might be challenging during the first years of the disease. Thus, identifying the features that will be associated with a confirmed diagnosis over time is key. OBJECTIVES: To assess the frequency and the predisposing factors for a change of an initial diagnosis in an inception axSpA cohort. METHODS: DESIR is an ongoing national multicentre inception axSpA cohort with currently 12.5 years of follow-up. At the entry visit and confirmed at each visit, the diagnosis of axSpA was based on the opinion of the treating rheumatologist. Follow-up was interrupted in case of a change in this initial diagnosis. Multiple imputation was used to estimate the probability of a change in the initial diagnosis of axSpA for each patient lost to follow-up. Factors predisposing to an unchanged diagnosis of axSpA were then assessed using a multivariate logistic regression model on the imputed data sets. RESULTS: Of the 708 patients included, over 10 years of follow-up, 45 (6.4%) were excluded due to a diagnosis change and 300 (42.4%) patients were lost to follow-up. Based on the imputation of these 300 patients, a change in their initial axSpA diagnosis was estimated in 42 (14.0%). Factors predisposing to an unchanged initial axSpA diagnosis during follow-up were (ORs (95% CIs)): radiographic sacroiliitis: 17.0 (4.1 to 71.0); psoriasis: 5.3 (2.0 to 14.3); CRP≥6 mg/L: 2.7 (1.3 to 5.3); good NSAID response: 2.5 (1.5 to 4.2); HLA B27+: 2.0 (1.3 to 3.3); anterior chest wall pain: 2.0 (1.2 to 3.3) and female sex: 1.9 (1.2 to 3.0). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a change in diagnosis in recent onset axSpA exists, but is not frequent, and is less likely to occur in the presence of objective features at baseline.

Sensitivity to change of structural outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis after 10 years of follow up. Data from the DESIR cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity to change in structural imaging outcomes over 10 years of follow-up in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). METHODS: Patients with axSpA from the Devenir des Spondyloarthropathies Indifferénciées Récentes cohort were included. Radiographs and MRIs of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) and spine were obtained at baseline and at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years. The yearly rate of change of each structural outcome was analysed using generalised estimating equation models, including all patients with ≥1 score from ≥1 reader from ≥1 reading wave, using the time (years) as an explanatory variable and adjusting for reader and wave. All outcomes were standardised, and the relative standardised rate of change was calculated (ie, the standardised rate of an outcome divided by the rate of a reference outcome). RESULTS: A total of 659 patients (46% males and mean age 33.6 years) were included. The most sensitive outcome to change in the SIJ (both MRI and radiographs) was the presence of ≥3 fatty lesions at a specific timepoint, with a relative standardised rate of change per year of 5.28 using the modified New York criteria as reference.Similarly, the most sensitive to change (in both MRI and radiographs) outcome in the spine was the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS; relative standardised yearly change 1.76) using ≥1 syndesmophyte as reference. CONCLUSION: MRI structural outcomes in the SIJ (ie, fatty lesions) are more sensitive to change than radiographic outcomes. Conversely, the mSASSS remains the most sensitive method, even when compared with MRI of the spine.

Hydroxychloroquine levels in pregnancy and materno-fetal outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients.

OBJECTIVES: Data about hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) levels during pregnancy are sparse. We assessed HCQ whole blood levels at first trimester of pregnancy as a potential predictor of maternal and obstetric/fetal outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: We included pregnant SLE patients enrolled in the prospective GR2 study receiving HCQ, with at least one available first-trimester whole-blood HCQ assay. We evaluated several cut-offs for HCQ whole blood levels, including ≤200 ng/ml for severe non-adherence. Primary outcomes were maternal flares during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs: fetal/neonatal death, placental insufficiency with preterm delivery, and small-for-gestational-age neonates). RESULTS: We included 174 patients (median age: 32.1 years, IQR 28.8-35.2). Thirty (17.2%) patients had flares, 4 (2.3%) being severe. APOs occurred in 28 patients (16.1%). There were no significant differences in APOs by HCQ level for either those with subtherapeutic HCQ levels (≤500 ng/ml vs >500 ng/ml: 23.5% vs 14.3%, p = 0.19) or those with non-adherent HCQ levels (≤200 ng/ml vs >200 ng/ml: 20.0% vs 15.7%, p = 0.71). Similarly, the overall rate of maternal flares did not differ significantly by HCQ level cut-off, but patients with subtherapeutic (HCQ ≤500 ng/ml: 8.8% vs 0.7%, p = 0.02) and non-adherent HCQ levels (≤200 ng/ml: 13.3% vs 1.3%, p = 0.04) had significantly more severe flares. CONCLUSION: In this large prospective study of pregnant SLE patients, first-trimester subtherapeutic (≤500 ng/ml) and severe non-adherent (≤200 ng/ml) HCQ levels were associated with severe maternal flares, but not with APOs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02450396.

Evaluation of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) Score in Assessing Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity in Teleconsultation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relevance of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) score as a disease activity marker of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a teleconsultation setting. METHODS: A prospective, observational, 24-month, single-center study involving patients with RA who underwent teleconsultations was performed. The RAID score was sent to all patients by email and completed the day before the scheduled session. The RAID questionnaire was also completed just prior to the next scheduled face-to-face consultation. The same physician performed teleconsultation/in-person consultations and was unaware of the RAID results. RESULTS: We included 70 patients (mean age 50 [SD 14] yrs, mean disease duration 10 [SD 9] yrs). The RAID score correlated with the following items: patient global assessment (r 0.55, P < 0.001), patient-reported swollen joint count (r 0.50, P < 0.001), and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) calculated with patient self-reported tender/swollen joints (r 0.74, P < 0.001). The RAID score completed during the next face-to-face consultation for 45 patients also correlated with the DAS28-CRP performed by the clinician (r 0.65, P < 0.001). A RAID score > 2 was associated with the best combination of sensitivity (94%) and specificity (43%) for the indication of rapid in-person consultation because of insufficiently controlled disease activity, with an area under the curve of 0.74. All 23 patients with RAID < 2 had no intercurrent flares; overall physician global assessment was 1.6 of 10 (SD 1.4), DAS28-CRP 1.5 (SD 0.2), and CRP 1.8 (SD 1.4) mg/L. CONCLUSION: Our findings reinforce the RAID score as a valuable tool in teleconsultation, exhibiting a good correlation with disease activity variables. Using a RAID score threshold of 2 during teleconsultations could distinguish patients with good disease control and those with the potential need for an in-person visit.

When Usual Care Is Not So Usual: Protocol Violations and Generalizability in a Treat-to-Target Strategy Trial in Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of protocol violations in the treat-to-target group in the Tight Control in Spondyloarthritis (TICOSPA) trial and to compare the proportion of patients optimally treated according to the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS)/EULAR 2016 recommendations for patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) between the treat-to-target versus usual care (UC) arms. METHODS: This study was a cluster-randomized, controlled 48-week trial including patients with axSpA who fulfilled the ASAS criteria, had an Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score >2.1, and were biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug naive. Eighteen axSpA expert centers were randomly allocated to one treatment arm: (a) treat-to-target prespecified management strategy (four-week visits), and (b) UC treatment decisions at the rheumatologist's discretion (12-week visits). Protocol violations in the treat-to-target arm and the fulfillment of the 2016 ASAS/EULAR recommendations in both arms were evaluated at every visit. ASAS Health Index (ASAS-HI) and disease activity outcomes at 48 weeks were compared between treat-to-target violators versus nonviolators. Patients treated according to the ASAS/EULAR recommendations were compared between both arms. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients initiated the trial (80 patients with treat to target; 80 patients with UC). In the treat-to-target arm, 51.2% patients violated the protocol at least once (62.2% of violations resulting in maintenance/reduction of treatment against protocol). After 48 weeks, treat-to-target violators versus nonviolators showed similar ratios of ASAS-HI improvement. The proportion of patients managed according to the ASAS/EULAR recommendations after the first 12 weeks were 63.9% versus 61.8% for the treat-to-target and UC arms, respectively. CONCLUSION: Protocol violations in the treat-to-target arm in the TICOSPA trial were frequent, although they did not have an impact on the rate of the primary outcome. The groups with UC was optimally treated, partly explaining the nonachievement of the primary objective in the TICOSPA trial.

Unmet needs in axial spondyloarthritis. Proceedings of the French spondyloarthritis taskforce workshop.

The progress observed over the last 30 years in the field of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has not made it possible to answer all the current questions. This manuscript represents the proceedings of the meeting of the French spondyloArthitiS Task force (FAST) in Besançon on September 28 and 29, 2023. Different points of discussion were thus individualized as unmet needs: biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease activity, a common electronic file dedicated to SpA nationwide, a better comprehension of dysbiosis in the disease, a check-list for addressing to the rheumatologist, adapt patient reported outcomes thresholds for female gender, implementation of comorbidities screening programs, new imaging tools, in research cellular and multi omics approaches, grouping, at a nationwide level, different cohorts and registries, therapeutic strategy studies, consensual definition of difficult to treat disease and management, preclinical stage of the disease, mastering AI as a tool in the various aspects of research. These elements may represent a framework for the research agenda in axSpA for the years to come.

Disease activity and widespread pain are main contributors to patient-reported global health in axial spondyloarthritis: an analysis of 6064 patients.

Global health (GH) and health-related quality of life are patient priorities in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Our objective was to assess the relative importance of disease-related factors including disease activity, and patient-related factors including comorbidities, to explain GH in axSpA. Post hoc cross-sectional analyses of 4 sets (COMOSPA, PERSPA, COMEDSPA, and DESIR) of patients fulfilling ASAS criteria for axSpA. GH was assessed through the ASAS Health Index (ASAS-HI) or the EuroQoL-5D-3L (EQ-5D). Disease-related factors included disease activity (ASDAS, psoriasis, arthritis, enthesitis, and CRP), disease duration, diagnostic delay, bamboo spine, and treatment. Non-disease-related factors included sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities and chronic widespread pain. Multivariable logistic and linear regressions and partial variances (R2) were applied to identify independent determinants of GH. In 6064 patients (range 284-2756 across datasets), mean age ranged 38.9-45.8 years, 51-68% were male. GH was generally moderate: median ASAS-HI ranged 5.0-7.0. GH was explained by ASDAS (range of odds ratios, OR, 2.60-4.48) and chronic widespread pain (range of OR 2.19-8.39); other determinants included comorbidities and sociodemographic characteristics. Only 47-57% of the total variance in GH could be explained by the models; disease activity (partial variance, 16-26%) and chronic widespread pain (partial variance 12-15%) were the key contributing variables. A wide range of disease and non-disease-related variables usually collected in studies could only explain 47-57% of the variability in GH. Among these, disease activity and chronic widespread pain were most relevant and of similar magnitude of importance. These findings will be helpful for shared decision-making.

Standardized reporting for systematic global evaluation of axial spondyloarthritis: An evidence-based and consensus-driven initiative.

INTRODUCTION: National and international scientific societies advocate for a regular, systematic, and standardized global evaluation of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients. However, there are no recommendations specifying the content of this global evaluation. This initiative aimed to propose a standardized reporting framework, using evidence-based and consensus approaches, to collect data on all domains of axSpA. METHODS: A literature review and consensus process involved a steering committee and an expert panel of 37 rheumatologists and health professionals. The first steering committee took place in March 2022 and identified the main domains for inclusion in the standardized report. A hierarchical literature review was conducted to identify items within these domains and tools for assessment. The items and tools for assessment were discussed and consensus was reached through a vote session during an expert meeting that took place in March 2023. RESULTS: The steering committee identified four main domains to include in the standardized reporting framework: disease assessment, comorbidities, lifestyle, and quality of life. Items and tools for assessment were adopted after the expert meeting. Additionally, recommendations regarding digital tools (websites, apps, social media) were provided. CONCLUSION: This initiative led to a consensus, based on evidence and expertise, on a reporting framework for use during periodic systematic global evaluations of axSpa in daily practice.

Clinical and imaging outcomes of different phenotypes of axial spondyloarthritis: 5-year analysis of the DESIR cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the long-term outcomes of three phenotypes of axial SpA (axSpA). METHODS: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of axSpA from the DESIR cohort were grouped into three phenotypes at baseline: 'Pure axSpA' ('Axial'), 'axSpA with peripheral signs' ('IBP+Peripheral') and 'axSpA at risk' ('At risk') by latent class analysis. Clinical and imaging data were collected up to 5 years. Clinical outcomes, measured in each visit, included disability (BASFI) and quality of life (QoL; SF36). Imaging outcomes included inflammatory and structural lesions on MRI and radiographs of spine and SIJ. The association between phenotype membership at baseline and each outcome was tested in multivariable GEE models. RESULTS: In total, 576 patients with axSpA were included. 'At risk' patients had worse disability and QoL than 'Axial' patients over time. For instance, 'At risk' patients had on average 0.4 more points in BASFI over time than 'Axial' patients [ß (95 % CI): 0.4 (0.2; 0.7)]. This difference was mostly noted in female patients who were HLA-B27 positive. In addition, the difference between the 'At risk' and 'Axial' phenotypes was higher in patients receiving bDMARDs than in those not (ß=0.6 vs 0.5), since BASFI improved more in 'Axial' (∆BASFI: -1.3) than in 'At risk' (∆BASFI: -0.9) treated patients. There were no differences in disability and QoL between 'Axial' and 'IBP+Peripheral' patients. Imaging outcomes were worse in the 'Axial' phenotype than in the others over time. CONCLUSION: Patients with 'axSpA at risk' show worse self-reported outcomes over time and are less likely to benefit from anti-inflammatory treatment than those with a classical axSpA phenotype.

Erosions on T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Radiography of Sacroiliac Joints in Recent-Onset Axial Spondyloarthritis: 2-Year Data (EMBARK Trial and DESIR Cohort).

OBJECTIVE: (1) To compare the capacity to detect sacroiliac joint (SIJ) erosions and baseline-to-week 104 change in erosions between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiographs in recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA); and (2) to compare treatment-discriminatory capacities of MRI and radiographic scores for erosion detection in patients receiving etanercept in the Effect of Etanercept on Symptoms and Objective Inflammation in Nonradiographic axSpA (EMBARK) trial vs controls in the DESIR (Devenir des Spondylarthropathies Indifférenciées Récentes) cohort. METHODS: Anonymized SIJ MRI and radiographs were assessed at patient and joint surface levels. Three readers evaluated MRI; 3 different readers evaluated radiographs. Final scores for comparison of radiographs and MRI for detection of erosions were assigned based on agreement of ≥ 2 of 3 readers' assessments. RESULTS: At baseline, discordance in erosion detection between imaging methods was more frequent for MRI erosions in the absence of radiographic erosions (48/224 [21.4%] patients) than for radiographic erosions in the absence of MRI erosions (14/224 [6.3%] patients; P < 0.001). After 104 weeks, a decrease in erosions was observed on MRI but not radiographs in 49/221 (22.2%) patients, and on radiographs but not MRI in 6/221 (2.7%) patients (P < 0.001). In the treatment-discriminant capacity analysis, the largest standardized differences between etanercept and control cohorts at week 104 were changes in Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada MRI erosion discrete score, changes in erosion average score, and meeting the modified New York criteria on radiographs, with unadjusted/adjusted Hedges G effect sizes of 0.40/0.50, 0.40/0.56, and 0.40/0.43, respectively. CONCLUSION: In recent-onset axSpA, SIJ erosions and erosion change were observed more frequently on MRI than radiography. The significance of interval improvement of MRI erosions warrants further research. [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01258738, NCT01648907].

Sacroiliac radiographic progression over 10 years in axSpA: data from the DESIR inception cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate sacroiliac radiographic progression over a 10-year follow-up and determine the baseline factors associated with such progression in patients with recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA, <3 years). METHODS: This analysis was performed in the DESIR cohort (NCT01648907). The radiographic status of the patients (radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA) vs non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA)) was based on the modified New York (mNY) criteria. Information on mNY criteria on the pelvic radiographs was obtained in four reading waves over a 10-year period. Images were blinded and centrally read by 3 trained readers. The % of mNY net progressors (ie, number of 'progressors' minus number of 'regressors' divided by the total number of patients) was assessed in completers (ie, pelvic radiographs at baseline and 10 years). The yearly likelihood of mNY+ was estimated using an integrated analysis (ie, including all patients with at least one available mNY score ('intention-to-follow' population) using a generalised estimating equations model and time-varying tumour necrosis factor (TNF) use as a confounder. Baseline predictors of mNY+ during 10 years were evaluated. RESULTS: Completers included 294 patients, while intention-to-follow included 659 participants. In the completers, the net % progression (from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA) was 5.8%. In the intention-to-follow population, the probability of being mNY+ was estimated to increase 0.87% (95% CI 0.56 to 1.19) per year (ie, 8.7% after 10 years) while when introducing TNF inhibitors (TNFi) as a time-varying covariate, the probability was 0.45% (95% CI 0.09 to 0.81) (ie, 4.5% after 10 years). Baseline bone marrow oedema (BME) on MRI of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) was associated with being mNY+ over time OR 6.2 (95% CI 5.3 to 7.2) and OR 3.1 (95% CI 2.4 to 3.9) in HLA-B27+ and HLA-B27-, respectively). Male sex, symptom duration >1.5 years, Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score ≥2.1 and smoking (only in HLA-B27 positives) were also associated with being mNY+ over 10 years. BME was not found to be a mediator of the HLA-B27 effect on mNY+ at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: The yearly likelihood of switching from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA in patients after 10 years of follow-up was low, and even lower when considering TNFi use.

Factors Associated With Treatment Pathways in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Multistate Analysis of the 10-Year Follow-Up of the DESIR Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Current recommendations for the management of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) emphasize the need of an individualized strategy in therapeutic decision-making. The study objectives were to describe therapeutic strategies observed in axSpA, and to assess the factors associated with treatment intensification over time. METHODS: We included patients with axSpA from the French prospective cohort DESIR (Devenir des Spondylarthropathies Indifférenciées Récentes), with a scheduled 10-year follow-up. A multistate model with 4 ordered treatment states (no treatment, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [csDMARDs], and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors [TNFi]) was defined, with 6 possible transitions. Restricted mean sojourn times in each state were estimated. Then, predictors of those transitions were assessed by multivariable Cox models. RESULTS: A total of 686/708 (96.9%) patients who had > 1 visit were analyzed. At cohort entry, 199 (29%) were untreated, 427 (62.2%) were receiving NSAIDs, 60 (8.7%) csDMARDs, and none were receiving TNFi. Over the follow-up period, patients mostly (46.4% of the time) received NSAIDs, followed by TNFi (24.4% of the time). The presence of sacroiliitis on radiographs, inflammatory bowel disease, and articular index were jointly associated with the transition to NSAIDs. Longer duration in the previous state often decreased the hazard of the transition to csDMARDs or TNFi. Worse disease activity outcomes increased the hazard of most transitions. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this was the first study using a multistate model to easily represent different treatment states, detailing the transitions across them and their associated factors. Different time profiles for the management of patients with axSpA were identified, including in those abstaining from treatment up to a significant proportion of patients treated with csDMARDs.

Ten-year clinical outcome of recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis: Results from the DESIR inception Cohort.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the 10-year clinical outcome of patients with recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). METHODS STUDY DESIGN: The DESIR cohort is an inception cohort of axSpA patients. METHODS DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT: The diagnosis and management of patients were based on the decision of the treating rheumatologist. METHODS STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Both complete cases and imputed data analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Of the 708 enrolled patients, 45 were excluded due to a change in the baseline diagnosis, 3 patients died, and 300 were lost to follow-up over the 10years. In the completer population, one patient required bilateral total hip replacement, and 56 patients received a pension due to invalidity. The prevalence of main extra-musculoskeletal features increased from baseline to year 10: psoriasis from 18% to 30%, acute anterior uveitis from 10% to 18%, and inflammatory bowel disease from 5% to 10%. The most frequent comorbidity was hypertension, with an increase from 5% to 15% from baseline to year 10. In the imputed data analysis the estimated proportions of patients with an acceptable status at year 10 were 70% [95% CI: 63; 77] for acceptable PASS, 43% [95% CI: 37; 49] for BASDAI<3, and 48% [95% CI: 41; 56] for ASDAS<2.1. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that despite a quite favorable 10-year outcome exists for severe outcomes, a large proportion of patients present with an important disease burden reflected by patient-reported outcomes. This information can be valuable for providing patients with information at the time of diagnosis.

Sex differential impact of comorbidities in spondyloarthritis: data from COMOSPA study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the prevalence of comorbidities in female and male patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to assess whether comorbidities had a different impact on disease outcomes in male and female patients. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of the COMOrbidities in SPondyloArthritis study. Differences in comorbidities regarding sex were assessed using logistic regression models. Comorbidities were evaluated for their impact on disease outcomes (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, European health-related quality of life questionnaire) with linear models, which included sex and comorbidity as explanatory variables and their interaction. Age and treatment with biological synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were included as confounders. RESULTS: We included 3982 patients with SpA (65% male, mean age 43.6 years). Male and female patients with SpA exhibited similar comorbidity profiles, except for a low prevalence of fibromyalgia in males and a higher prevalence of certain cardiovascular risk factors in males (hypertension, dyslipidaemia, renal impairment and ischaemic heart disease). Comorbidities, especially fibromyalgia, correlated with higher disease activity, decreased physical function and reduced health-related quality of life in both sexes. Some comorbidities exhibited sex-specific associations with disease outcomes. Peptic ulcers and high waist circumference had a greater impact on disease activity in females (with a higher impact in BASDAI than in ASDAS). In contrast, osteoporosis had a more pronounced effect on physical function in male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidities exert distinct influences on disease activity, physical function and health-related quality of life in male and female patients with SpA. Understanding these sex-specific effects is crucial for improving SpA management, emphasising the importance of assessing disease activity using ASDAS when comorbidities are present to mitigate sex-related disparities in disease assessment.

Goodbye to the term 'ankylosing spondylitis', hello 'axial spondyloarthritis': time to embrace the ASAS-defined nomenclature.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the historic term used for decades for the HLA-B27-associated inflammatory disease affecting mainly the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) and spine. Classification criteria for AS have radiographic sacroiliitis as a dominant characteristic. However, with the availability of MRI of SIJ, it could be demonstrated that the disease starts long before definite SIJ changes become visible on radiographs. The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society, representing a worldwide group of experts reached consensus on changes in the nomenclature pertaining to axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), such as the terminology of diagnosis and of assessment of disease activity tools. These are important changes in the field, as experts in axSpA are now in agreement that the term axSpA is the overall term for the disease. A further differentiation, of which radiographic versus non-radiographic is only one aspect, may be relevant for research purposes. Another important decision was that the terms AS and radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA) can be used interchangeably, but that the preferred term is r-axSpA. Based on the decision that axSpA is the correct terminology, a proposal was made to officially change the meaning of the ASDAS acronym to 'Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score'. In addition, for simplification it was proposed that the term ASDAS (instead of ASDAS-CRP) should be preferred and applied to the ASDAS calculated with C reactive protein (CRP). It is hoped that these changes will be used consequently for education, in textbooks, manuscripts and presentations.

Do subjective components of disease activity contribute to heterogeneity in opioid prescriptions in inflammatory rheumatic diseases? Results from ESPOIR and DESIR cohorts.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether subjective components of disease activity are associated with heterogeneity in opioid prescription in inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) after accounting for objective inflammatory markers. METHODS: Data from two prospective observational cohorts of early IRDs (ESPOIR for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and DESIR for spondyloarthritis (SpA)) were included. Opioid prescription duration (converted to monthly binary opioid prescription), disease activity (Disease activity score 28 (DAS28) for RA; Axial spondyloarthritis disease activity score-C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) for SpA) and its components were measured respectively at 13 and 9 occasions spanning 10- and 6-years of follow-up. Group-based trajectory modelling defined opioid-prescription trajectories and mixed-models characterised the evolution of disease activity and its subjective components by opioid-prescription trajectories. RESULTS: Four distinct opioid-prescription trajectories: no/low (60.5% and 54.3%), declining (14.7% and 15.8%), augmenting (11.9% and 10.7%), and persistent (12.9% and 19.1%) were identified in RA and SpA respectively (60% were prescribed opioids at least once). Those with regular opioid prescriptions (up to 30%) are often older, less educated, have higher BMI and worse disease. No/low trajectory was the reference for examining evolution of disease activity and subjective components (n=810 RA, n=679 SpA). In IRDs, consistently higher disease activity throughout follow-up were seen with persistent (DAS28(ß=0.4-0.8); ASDAS-CRP(ß=0.4-0.6)), and augmenting (DAS28(ß=0.2-0.5); ASDAS-CRP(ß=0.3-0.6)) trajectories and until 3- or 4-years of follow-up (DAS28(ß=0.3-0.4); ASDAS-CRP(ß=0.2-0.3)) with declining trajectory. Likewise, despite accounting for objective inflammation, subjective components had worse scores over follow-up in augmenting and persistent trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: Non-inflammatory pain mechanisms amplify subjective outcomes, thus, worsening composite measures like disease activity.