Clinical utility of the ASDAS index in comparison with BASDAI in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (Axis Study)

The predictability of ASDAS on drug survival in patients with ankylosing spondylitis on biologic therapy: data from the KOBIO registry

Background

The Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) is largely used for assessing disease activity in patients with AS.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the predictability of ASDAS on drug survival in patients with low Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) during biologic therapy.

Design

Using data from multi-center, prospective, observational prospective cohort, Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics and Targeted Therapy (KOBIO) registry.

Methods

The study population consisted of patients enrolled in the KOBIO registry from December 2012 to December 2018. The baseline demographic data and variables such as extra-articular manifestations, HLA-B27 positivity, family history of spondyloarthritis, ASDAS C-reactive protein (CRP), BASDAI, and Bath AS Functional Index scores were collected from the database. The disease activity indices were followed yearly after initiating a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor (TNFi). Disease activities were defined as high (ASDAS-CRP ⩾ 2.1, BASDAI ⩾ 4) and low (ASDAS-CRP < 2.1, BASDAI < 4).

Results

Data from 1773 patients were analyzed. Among 269 patients with low BASDAI at baseline, 151 (56.1%) patients had high ASDAS-CRP, yet in 142 patients with low ASDAS-CRP at baseline, only 24 (16.9%) patients had a high BASDAI. High ASDAS-CRP captured more patients who had initiated or switched to a TNFi than those with high BASDAI (92.5% versus 84.8%, respectively, p < 0.001). Moreover, among AS patients with low BASDAI after 1 year of therapy, drug persistence in the following year was significantly lower in patients with high ASDAS than in those with low ASDAS (68.7% versus 82.5%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

ASDAS-CRP not only has its advantages over BASDAI in assessing disease activity but also low ASDAS-CRP at 1 year can be a marker of long-term drug survival of TNFi therapy.

2021 clinical practice guideline for the early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Colombian Association of Rheumatology

BACKGROUND

Axial Spondyloarthritis is a rheumatic condition affecting young patients with social and occupational consequences. Diagnosis delay is associated with functional impairment and impact on quality of life, requiring a multidisciplinary approach.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a set of recommendations based on the best available evidence for early detection, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring adult patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

METHODS

A working group was established, questions were developed, outcomes were graded, and a systematic search for evidence was conducted. A multidisciplinary panel of members was established (including patient representatives), minimizing bias in relation to conflicts of interest. The GRADE approach "Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation" was used to assess the quality of the evidence as well as the direction and strength of recommendations. In total, 11 recommendations with regard to diagnosis (n = 2), pharmacological treatment (n = 6), non-pharmacological treatment (n = 2) and monitoring (n = 1) are presented.

RESULTS

Sacroiliac joint radiography as the first diagnostic method, and the use of disease activity scales for patient monitoring (ASDAS or BASDAI), are recommended. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the first treatment option; in case of intolerance or residual pain, acetaminophen or opioids are recommended. In patients with axial involvement, it is recommended not to use conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or systemic or local glucocorticoids. In patients with failure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-TNF or anti-IL17A is recommended. In those patients presenting with anti-TNF failure, starting an anti-IL17A is recommended. Exercise, physical and occupational therapy are recommended as part of treatment. It is recommended not to use unconventional therapies as the only treatment option.

CONCLUSIONS

This set of recommendations provides an updated guide on the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Effectiveness, safety and economic analysis of Benepali in clinical practice

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness, safety and cost of Etanercept biosimilar in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared to the standard drug in real clinical practice.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective observational study. Case series of 138 patients with RA, SpA or PsA treated with at least one dose of Benepali® (n = 79) or Enbrel® (n = 59). Drug retention time was the primary efficacy endpoint compared to the biosimilar and the original. The proportion of patients achieving low disease activity or remission after 52 weeks was used as the secondary outcome. Safety was assessed by means of the adverse effects incidence rate. A cost minimization analysis was performed.

RESULTS

No differences were observed regarding treatment retention time between drugs (median [95% confidence interval, 95% CI] at 12.0 months [10.2-12.0] for the biosimilar and 12.0 months [12.0-12.0] for the original). Similar improvements, in terms of inflammatory activity and physical function, were obtained after 52 weeks except for patients with SpA and PsA who, in general, experienced improvements of BASDAI and ASDAS with the original compared with the biosimilar. No significant differences were observed in the total number of adverse effects (.43 events/patient-years versus the biosimilar and .53 versus the original). Using the biosimilar in place of the original drug resulted in a net savings of 118,383.55 € (1,747.20 €/patient-years) for the hospital.

CONCLUSION

The biosimilar Benepali is as effective and safe as the original and much more cost-effective.

Use of Quantitative Vertebral Bone Marrow Fat Fraction to Assess Disease Activity and Chronicity in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective

We quantitatively measured the fat fraction (FF) in the vertebrae of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigated the role of FF as an indicator of both active inflammation and chronicity.

Materials and Methods

A total of 52 patients with AS who underwent spinal MRI were retrospectively evaluated. The FF values of the anterosuperior and anteroinferior corners of the bone marrow in the L1-S1 spine were assessed using the modified Dixon technique. AS activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and serum inflammatory marker levels. AS disease chronicity was assessed by AS disease duration and the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to investigate the correlation between FF and other clinical characteristics.

Results

The mean FF ± standard deviation of the total lumbar spine was 43.0% ± 11.3%. At univariable analysis, spinal FF showed significant negative correlation with BASDAI (β = −0.474, p = 0.002) and ASDAS with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP; β = −0.478, p = 0.002) and a significant positive correlation with AS disease duration (β = 0.440, p = 0.001). After adjusting for patient age, sex, and total mSASSS score, spinal FF remained significantly negatively correlated with BASDAI (β = −0.543, p < 0.001), ASDAS-CRP (β = −0.568, p < 0.001), and ASDAS with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (β = −0.533, p = 0.001). Spinal FF was significantly lower in patients with very high disease activity (ASDAS-CRP > 3.5) than in those with only high disease activity (2.1 ≤ ASDAS-CRP ≤ 3.5) (p = 0.010).

Conclusion

Spinal FF may help assess both AS disease activity and chronicity.

The serum C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio and fibrinogen to prealbumin ratio are two relevant indicators for evaluating the disease activity of ankylosing spondylitis

The C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio (CPR) and fibrinogen to prealbumin ratio (FPR) in serum are two emerging biomarkers. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between these two markers and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Scores (ASDAS). A total of 163 patients with AS and 120 healthy examinees were included in this study. The t-test and Mann-Whitney U ranking test were used to analyze the differences between groups. The spearman-test was used to analyze the correlation between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (Fib), prealbumin (PAlb), CPR, FPR, and AS disease activity in the test group. We generated the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) of CPR and FPR and determined the discriminating ability by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Compared with the healthy group, ESR ( p < 0.001), CRP ( p < 0.001), Fib ( p < 0.001), CPR ( p < 0.001), and FPR ( p < 0.001) of AS patients were significantly increased, while PAlb was significantly reduced. CPR and FPR were more correlated to ASDAS-CRP. CPR was positively correlated with CRP, ESR, BASDAI, and ASDAS-CRP in AS patients ( r = 0.959, p < 0.001, r = 0.717, p < 0.001, r = 0.704, p < 0.001, r = 0.763, p < 0.001). FPR was positively correlated with CRP, ESR BASDAI, and ASDAS-CRP in AS patients ( r = 0.779, p < 0.001, r = 0709, p < 0.001, r = 0.551, p < 0.001, r = 0.763, p < 0.001). ROC showed that the AUC levels of CPR and FPR were high (AUC = 0.952 and AUC = 0.893). CPR and FPR are two promising new biological indicators for assessing disease activity in AS patients.

Psychological factors associated with sleep disorders in patients with axial spondyloarthritis or psoriatic arthritis: A multicenter cross-sectional observational study

BACKGROUND

Studies in axial spondyloarthritis (AxSp) have shown that intensity of pain, anxiety, depression and inflammatory activity are associated with poor sleep quality.

AIM

To describe mood and sleep disorders and positive psychological factors in patients with AxSp and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to evaluate the psychological factors that are potentially involved in sleep disorders.

DESIGN

Multicenter cross-sectional observational study based on a series of patients with AxSp and PsA.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were selected consecutively from patients aged ≥18 years with AxSp or PsA followed at the rheumatology department of 4 Spanish hospitals.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

age ≥18 years, AxSp (ASAS criteria) or PsA (CASPAR criteria), ability to understand the study and prepared to complete the questionnaires.

METHODS

Main outcomes: Oviedo Sleep Quality questionnaire result.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

psychological status evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire, health-related quality of life evaluated using SF-36, perception of pain evaluated using the short questionnaire for assessment of pain (BDU) and fatigue evaluated using the Fatigue Scale (FACIT) questionnaire. We performed a descriptive multivariate linear regression analysis to study factors that were independently associated with sleep disorders. The STROBE guidelines were adopted.

RESULTS

We included 301 patients (152 [50.5%] with AxSp and 149 [49.5%] with PsA). The multivariate linear regression analysis for the whole sample showed that insomnia was inversely associated with emotional recovery and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and directly associated with depression in both groups. The analysis by disease (AxSp and PsA) showed that insomnia was independently associated with depression and emotional recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Insomnia may be associated with other mood disorders, quality of life and inflammatory activity in the patients studied here.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

A nurse intervention can be carried out to prevent sleep disorders knowing the consequences and triggers of the problem.

Validation and clinical interpretability of PsAID - psoriatic arthritis impact of disease

BACKGROUND

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of widely varying presentation, which determines functional and psychological impairment, with a high negative impact on patients' quality of life. Therefore, knowing the patient's perception of their health status is of fundamental importance for understanding the real impact of PsA. Given this context, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recently developed the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID) - instrument to specifically assess the impact of PsA for the patient.

OBJECTIVE

Validate the brazilian portuguese version of PsAID-12 (Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease) and to verify its interpretability in clinical practice, through its relation with measures of psoriatic arthritis activity.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional study, which recruited 160 patients, who met the Classification criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR), in six Brazilian centers of rheumatology. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The construct validity was evaluated by exploratory factorial analysis and also by Spearman correlation with other PROMs and measures of disease activity evaluation.

RESULTS

Of the total number of participants, 50% were female, with a mean age (SD) of 54.0 ± 11.2 years; 68% had only peripheral arthritis and 32% had pure or mixed axial involvement. The majority (67.7%) of the patients were using biological treatment. The reliability of internal consistency (alpha-Cronbach = 0.93) and test-retest (ICC = 0.996) were good. Factor analysis revealed two factors, named physical and psychosocial, which included the skin evaluation item. PsAID-12 correlated significantly with other PROMs, demonstrating good construct validity. PsAID-12 was also significantly associated with the disease activity assessment instruments (DAS28-ESR, ASDAS, and BASDAI) and the MDA status: "Minimum Disease Activity". Fibromyalgia did not significantly affect the final PsAID-12 score.

CONCLUSION

The brazilian version of PsAID-12 has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of the impact of the disease in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Moreover, it associated significantly with the scores of disease activity assessment.

Meta-Analysis of Changes in the Number and Proportion of Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Studies on the number and proportion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients have been controversial, which has led to a disagreement regarding the role of Tregs in the pathogenesis of AS. To clarify this debate, we conducted a meta-analysis to verify the reported changes in Tregs during AS. We systematically searched the PubMed, Foreign Medical Retrieval System (FMRS), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) web of knowledge databases for eligible articles. A meta-analysis of studies that examined the proportion and number of Tregs among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4⁺ T cells was performed using Stata software. Further, subgroup analysis was performed based on Treg definition markers and disease activity to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. Forty-seven studies involving a total of 4373 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The Treg/PBMC and Treg/CD4⁺ T cell ratios were significantly lower in AS patients than those in healthy controls (HCs). A subgroup analysis indicated that patients defined by CD4⁺CD25^+/high, CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low/-, and CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺ had much lower Treg/PBMC and Treg/CD4⁺ T cell ratios than HCs. Active AS patients also had a substantially lower proportion of Tregs/PBMCs and Treg/CD4⁺ T cells than HCs. The proportion of Tregs among both PBMCs and CD4⁺ T cells was significantly decreased in AS patients. Treg definition markers and disease activity may influence the proportion of Tregs measured among the PBMC and CD4⁺ T cell populations. Further study of the correlation between AS disease activity and the proportion of Tregs in peripheral blood is needed to determine the physiological role of this association. This study implies that loss of Tregs may play a role in the pathogenesis of AS and helps clarify the contradictory Treg results in AS patients. This trial is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019147064).

Short-term response in new users of anti-TNF predicts long-term productivity and non-disability: analysis of Czech ATTRA ankylosing spondylitis biologic registry

Objectives: To assess the role of short-term response to first anti-TNF in long-term prediction of disability.Methods: In nationwide registry ATTRA, we identified ankylosing spondylitis patients starting anti-TNF between 01/2003 and 12/2016. Full disability and work impairment (WI; WPAI questionnaire) were predicted via the Cox- and lagged-parameter mixed-effect regression.Results: 2,274 biologicals-naïve patients newly indicated to anti-TNF were prospectively followed (6,333 patient-years; median follow-up 1.9 years). Reaching BASDAI < 4 (77.4%) and ASDAS-CRP < 2.1 (61.1%) after 3 months of anti-TNF both decreased the risk of future disability by ≈2.5-fold. ASDAS-CRP < 2.1 predicted non-disability better than BASDAI < 4 & CRP < 5 mg/L (p = 0.032). BASDAI < 4 & CRP < 5 mg/L was comparable to BASDAI < 4 (p = 0.941) and to BASDAI change by >50% or by >2 points (p = 0.902). ASDAS-CRP change >1.1 and >2.0 both failed to predict non-disability. Once on anti-TNF therapy, the strongest predictor of WI was Pain (SF36). Yearly increase in indirect costs remains below €3,000 in those reaching ASDAS-CRP < 2.1.Conclusions: Low disease activity measured by ASDAS-CRP ≤ 2.1 should be used to measure the outcome of new anti-TNF therapy. Continuous WI could be decreased through pain management.

Validity and reliability of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in Singapore

INTRODUCTION

The Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) are commonly used instruments for measuring disease activity. However, few studies have assessed their psychometric properties in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). We aimed to assess the validity and reliability of ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI in patients with axSpA in Singapore.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from 280 patients with axSpA from a dedicated axSpA clinic in a Singapore tertiary referral hospital from 2011 to 2019 were used. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was assessed through 12 a priori hypotheses by correlation of overall ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI score with other patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs). Structural validity was evaluated via confirmatory factor analysis using maximum-likelihood method, where Comparative Fit Index (CFI) >0.95, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) >0.95, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) <0.06 and Standardized Root Mean Residuals (SRMR) <0.08 were indicative of good fit.

RESULTS

Among 280 patients (78.2% Male; 92.5% Chinese), ASDAS-CRP showed poor internal consistency of 0.33, while BASDAI showed high internal consistency of 0.87. Convergent and divergent construct validity were demonstrated by fulfillment of 11 out of 12 a priori hypotheses when ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI were compared with other PROMs. Our proposed ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI model showed good fit for a 1-factor structure respectively (CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.984, RMSEA = 0.036, SRMR = 0.026 for ASDAS-CRP; CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.985, RMSEA = 0.057, SRMR = 0.022 for BASDAI), demonstrating structural validity.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the use of both ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI in measuring disease activity in patients with axSpA in Singapore.

Serum galectin-3 concentrations in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Objective

The aim of our study was to assess potential correlations between serum galectin‐3 concentrations and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity (ASDAS) index in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

A total of 112 patients with AS were included, and 130 healthy subjects were considered as controls. We collected the detailed medical history, and ASDAS index was used to assess the disease severity in patients with AS.

Results

The serum galectin concentrations were higher in AS patients compared to the health groups (14.1 ± 9.6 vs 9.2 ± 3.7, P < 0.001). The correlation analysis showed that serum galectin concentrations were significantly positively correlated with C‐reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.369, P < 0.001; r = 0.240, P = 0.011). In addition, the positively correlation of serum galectin‐3 with global pain index (r = 0.238, P = 0.011) was observed in AS patients. A significant positively correlation between serum galectin and ASDAS index in AS patients was found (r = 0.367; P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, the results indicated that increased serum galectin still was correlated with ASDAS index (r = 0.322, P < 0.001) in patients with AS.

Conclusions

Serum galectin concentrations were found to be correlated with ASDAS index in patients with AS.

Treating to Target(s) With Interleukin-17 Inhibitors

Background:

The treat-to-target (T2T) strategy has become established in several medical specialties as a key guidance to optimal therapeutic decision making. T2T may be effective in the assessment of the biologic class of agents called interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors, which are emerging as a safe and effective treatment option for autoimmune inflammatory conditions such as plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Objective:

The objective of this article is to use a T2T approach for the evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of IL-17 inhibitors in the management of patients with plaque psoriasis, PsA, and AS.

Methods:

Following a comprehensive literature search, a full-day meeting was convened to discuss and identify the T2T targets for psoriasis, PsA, and AS. Clinical trial evidence was presented for the approved IL-17 inhibitors—secukinumab, ixekizumab, and brodalumab—to assess whether these data meet T2T safety and efficacy targets.

Results:

All 3 approved agents were significantly superior to placebo and active controls in the achievement of T2T targets for psoriasis. Secukinumab and ixekizumab were likewise associated with significantly better outcomes than controls in the PsA targets, and secukinumab resulted in significant AS target improvements vs placebo. The IL-17 inhibitors were also associated with low rates of serious adverse events and exacerbations of common comorbid conditions.

Conclusion:

Phase III trial results support the T2T benefit and safety of IL-17 inhibitors according to their specific indications for the management of patients with plaque psoriasis, PsA, and AS.

Sclerostin rather than Dickkopf-1 is associated with mSASSS but not with disease activity score in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the serum levels of Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) and sclerostin, as well as their correlations with the structural damage assessed by modified stoke ankylosing spondylitis spine score (mSASSS) and the disease activity evaluated by ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS

Eighty-eight AS patients, 26 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC) were collected from rheumatic clinic of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, between March 2015 and July 2015. Demographic data, parameters of ASDAS, and image evaluations of spine (i.e., mSASSS) were collected. The serum levels of DKK-1 and sclerostin were measured using commercially available ELISA kits.

RESULTS

Both DKK-1 and sclerostin were significantly higher in the AS patients than in the controls (1855 ± 84.58 vs. 1406 ± 99.76 pg/ml and 106 ± 6.75 vs. 62.78 ± 6.39 pmol/l, respectively, P < 0.05). The correlation analysis suggested a negative correlation between serum sclerostin and mSASSS (P = 0.019, r² = 0.062). DKK-1 had a trend of positive correlation with mSASSS, but was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was no association between the serum levels of DKK-1 or sclerostin and disease activity assessed by ASDAS (P > 0.05). DKK-1 and sclerostin had a negative correlation (P = 0.013, r² = 0.07).

CONCLUSION

In the present study, the expressions of serum DKK-1 and sclerostin were independent of disease activity. Sclerostin was negatively correlated with the mSASSS, which suggests that sclerostin may be a potential marker indicating the spine ossification process in AS. The specific mechanism remains to be investigated.

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Thermometer-5-Item Scale (5T-PROs): Validation of a New Tool for the Quick Assessment of Overall Health Status in Painful Rheumatic Diseases

Objective

To investigate the construct validity, reliability (internal consistency and retest reliability), and feasibility of the patient-reported outcomes thermometer–5-item scale (5T-PROs), a new tool to measure overall health status in patients with painful chronic rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), axial spondyloarthritis (axialSpA), and fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods

Consecutive patients have been involved in this study. The following analyses were performed to establish the validity of the 5T-PROs: (1) principal component factor analysis was used to identify the presence of a relatively small number of underlying latent factors than can be used to represent relations among sets of many variables; (2) Cronbach's alpha was calculated as an indicator of internal consistency; and (3) Pearson product-moment correlations were conducted to assess the convergent validity. The 5T-PROs was also administered a second time (two weeks after the initial administration) to a subset of sample (n = 426) to allow for calculation of test-retest reliability. We used the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as an estimate of test-retest reliability. Additionally, discriminant validity was tested using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc multiple comparisons, in different disease conditions. Feasibility was analyzed by the time taken in completing the 5T-PROs and the proportion of patients able to complete the 5 item.

Results

1,199 patients (572 with RA, 251 with axialSpA, 150 with PsA, and 226 with FM) were examined. The mean age was 55.7 (standard deviation: 13.1; range: 20 to 80) years. Factor analysis yielded two factors which accounted for 62.54% of the variance of the 5T-PROs. The first factor “Symptom Summary Score” (35.57% of the variance) revealed a good internal consistency (alpha = 0.88); the internal consistency of the second factor “Psychological Summary Score” (26.97% of the variance) was moderate (alpha = 0.69). The reliability of the whole instrument was good (alpha = 0.82). A very high correlation was obtained between Symptom Summary Score and SF-36 PCS and between pain thermometer intensity and SF-36 bodily pain. For all five items and summary scale scores of the SF-36, there was strong evidence that the mean rank of the scores differs significantly between the groups (Kruskal–Wallis tests, p < 0.001). Discriminant validity, assessed by comparing the 5T-PRO dimensions in patients with different states of disease activity, showed that the 5T-PROs show moderate association with the presence of comorbidities. It was also noted that it was inversely correlated (p=0.01) to years of formal education.

Conclusion

The 5T-PROs is easily administered, reliable and a valid instrument for evaluating the extensive multidimensional impact associated with chronic painful rheumatic conditions.