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. 2009:2009:268569.
doi: 10.1155/2009/268569. Epub 2009 Aug 2.

Ankylosing spondylitis patients commencing biologic therapy have high baseline levels of comorbidity: a report from the Australian rheumatology association database

John Oldroyd  1 , Lionel Schachna, Rachelle Buchbinder, Margaret Staples, Bridie Murphy, Molly Bond, Andrew Briggs, Marissa Lassere, Lyn March
Affiliations

Ankylosing spondylitis patients commencing biologic therapy have high baseline levels of comorbidity: a report from the Australian rheumatology association database

John Oldroyd et al. Int J Rheumatol. 2009.

Abstract

Aims. To compare the baseline characteristics of a population-based cohort of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) commencing biological therapy to the reported characteristics of bDMARD randomised controlled trials (RCTs) participants. Methods. Descriptive analysis of AS participants in the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD) who were commencing bDMARD therapy. Results. Up to December 2008, 389 patients with AS were enrolled in ARAD. 354 (91.0%) had taken bDMARDs at some time, and 198 (55.9%) completed their entry questionnaire prior to or within 6 months of commencing bDMARDs. 131 (66.1%) had at least one comorbid condition, and 24 (6.8%) had a previous malignancy (15 nonmelanoma skin, 4 melanoma, 2 prostate, 1 breast, cervix, and bowel). Compared with RCT participants, ARAD participants were older, had longer disease duration and higher baseline disease activity. Conclusions. AS patients commencing bDMARDs in routine care are significantly different to RCT participants and have significant baseline comorbidities.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of comorbid conditions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis commencing biological therapy (n = 198).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Self-reported comorbidities in ankylosing spondylitis (n = 198) and rheumatoid arthritis (N = 624*).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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