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- Glintborg, B., et al.
(author)
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Biological treatment in ankylosing spondylitis in the Nordic countries during 2010-2016: a collaboration between five biological registries
- 2018
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0300-9742 .- 1502-7732. ; 47:6, s. 465-474
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Large-scale observational cohorts may be used to study the effectiveness and rare side effects of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but may be hampered by differences in baseline characteristics and disease activity across countries. We aimed to explore the research infrastructure in the five Nordic countries regarding bDMARD treatment in AS. Method: This observational cohort study was based on data from biological registries in Denmark (DANBIO), Sweden (SRQ/ARTIS), Finland (ROB-FIN), Norway (NOR-DMARD), and Iceland (ICEBIO). Data were collected for the years 2010-2016. Registry coverage, registry inventory (patient characteristics, disease activity measures), and national guidelines for bDMARD prescription in AS were described per country. Incident (first line) and prevalent bDMARD use per capita, country, and year were calculated. In AS patients who started first line bDMARDs during 2010-2016 (n = 4392), baseline characteristics and disease activity measures were retrieved. Results: Registry coverage of bDMARD-treated patients ranged from 60% to 95%. All registries included extensive prospectively collected data at patient level. Guidelines regarding choice of first line drug and prescription patterns varied across countries. During the period 2010-2016 prevalent bDMARD use increased (p < 0.001), whereas incident use tended to decrease (p for trend < 0.004), with large national variations (e.g. 2016 incidence: Iceland 10.7/100 000, Finland 1.7/100 000). Baseline characteristics were similar regarding C-reactive protein, but differed for other variables, including the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) (range 3.5-6.3) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) (2.7-3.8) (both p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Collaboration across the five Nordic biological registries regarding bDMARD use in AS is feasible but national differences in coverage, prescription patterns, and patient characteristics must be taken into account depending on the scientific question.
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- Ortolan, A., et al.
(author)
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Are gender-specific approaches needed in diagnosing early axial spondyloarthritis? Data from the SPondyloArthritis Caught Early cohort
- 2018
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In: Arthritis Res Ther. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354. ; 20
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Although gender differences have been observed in the severity of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), gender differences in disease presentation of early axSpA have not been thoroughly investigated. In particular, their impact on the diagnostic process is unknown. Methods: Baseline data from the SPondyloArthritis Caught Early cohort, which includes patients with chronic back pain (CBP; duration >= 3 months and <= 2 years, age of onset <45 years), were analysed. Patients underwent a full diagnostic work-up, including MRI and radiograph of the sacroiliac joints (MRI-SIJ and X-SIJ), to establish a diagnosis of axSpA. Characteristics of male and female patients with a certain diagnosis of axSpA (confidence level by the physician >= 7 on a 0-10 rating scale) were compared. Regression models were built for: the whole CBP cohort stratified by gender, to study which SpA features were associated most with diagnosis in each gender; and for axSpA patients, to test whether gender was associated with imaging positivity (MRI-SU+ and/or X-SU+). Results: Of the 719 CBP patients, 275 were male. With 146/275 males and 155/444 females diagnosed as axSpA, males were more likely to be diagnosed with axSpA (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.9). Despite similar symptom duration, male axSpA patients were younger at diagnosis (27.4 +/- 7.5 vs 29.5 +/- 7.8 years; p = 0.02). Presence of SpA features was similar in male and female axSpA patients, except for HLA-B27 and imaging positivity that were more common in male axSpA patients (80% vs 60%; p < 0.01 and 78% vs 64%; p = 0.01). Nevertheless, these SpA features were still more prevalent in female axSpA patients than in no-axSpA patients, both females (HLA-B27(+) 23%, positive imaging 7%) and males (HLAB27(+) 34%, positive imaging 11%) (all p < 0.01). Moreover, in multivariable models with diagnosis of axSpA as outcome, HLA-B27 and imaging positivity were associated with the diagnosis in both sexes. In models with imaging positivity as outcome, male gender and HLA-B27 were both independently associated with MRI+ and/or X-SI+. Conclusions: While our data show clear gender differences in early axSpA, they highlight that HLA-B27 and imaging are still key elements for diagnosis in both genders. Our study does not suggest that separate diagnostic strategies for men and women are required.
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