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Axial Spondyloarthritis in Chronic Lower Back Pain

Applying ASAS criteria in diagnoses

Publish date:: February 8, 2016

Among patients with chronic back pain for ≥3 months beginning at age <45 years, the presence of ≥1 of 3 spondyloarthritis (SpA) features is an effective way to identify patients with possible axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). This according to a study of 751 patients with chronic lower back pain. Researchers found:

Among patients with available data, 319/697 (46%) were given a clinical diagnosis of axSpA by the investigator.

348/744 (47%) fulfilled Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for axSpA, of whom 238 were classified as nonradiographic axSpA, 108 as ankylosing spondylitis, and 2 had missing data.

Using investigator’s clinical diagnosis as the gold standard, specificity of the ASAS criteria was 79% and sensitivity was 81%.

Citation: Deodhar A, Mease PJ, Reveille JD, et al. Frequency of axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis among patients seen by United States rheumatologists for evaluation of chronic back pain. [Published online ahead of print January 27, 2016]. Arthritis Rheumatol. doi: 10.1002/art.39612.

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