Table 1

Patient and disease characteristics (n=201)

n (%) or mean±SD (median)
Age, years49.5±13.4 (51.6)
Male128 (64%)
Classified as r-axSpA129 (64%)
Symptom duration, years15.2±11.4 (13.0)*
Diagnostic delay, years8.0±7.9 (5.0)*
HLA-B27 positive153 (78%)
High education level†68 (34%)
Occupational situation
Employed126 (63%)
Unemployed18 (9%)
Studying5 (3%)
Retired18 (9%)
Not capable due to axSpA32 (16%)
BMI, kg/m227.8±5.8 (26.4)
Current smoker51 (26%)
Current peripheral arthritis‡6 (3%)§
History of IBD16 (8%)
History of uveitis52 (26%)
History of psoriasis13 (7%)
BASDAI, 0–10
BASDAI≥4
3.9±2.2 (3.6)
93 (47%)
ASDAS
ASDAS≥2.1
2.1±0.9 (2.2)
98 (51%)
CRP, mg/L
CRP≥5, mg/L
4.1±5.9 (2.0)
49 (24%)
ASQoL, 0–185.4±4.8 (4.0)*
BASFI, 0–103.3±2.4 (2.9)*
mSQUASH activity total score9202±5516 (8960)
Medication use
 NSAID use117 (59%)
 csDMARD use25 (12%)
bDMARD use104 (53%)
  • Values are presented in: n (%) or mean±SD (median). All % values exclude missing items for their respective characteristic. All missing values <5% unless otherwise specified.

  • *10-15% missing

  • †Defined as International Standard Classification of Education level >5.

  • ‡Defined as a swollen joint count of ≥1.

  • §5-10% missing.

  • ASDAS, Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score; ASQoL, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life questionnaire; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; bDMARD, biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; BMI, body mass index; CRP, C reactive protein; csDMARD, conventional synthetic DMARD; HLA, human leucocyte antigen; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; mSQUASH, modified-Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-enhancing physical activity; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; r-axSpA, radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.