The British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for Ankylosing Spondylitis: Characteristics of Study Participants

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Background: The use of biologic agents in AS is common: data from the Scotland Registry for AS (SIRAS) suggest that around one-third of patients have, at some point, received anti-TNFα therapy. However, there are several unanswered questions regarding their use, including long-term safety issues, and the impact on quality of life in the real world, i.e. in non-trial populations. In 2012, the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for AS (BSRBR-AS) was established to monitor the safety of these treatments and to assess their effect on quality of life and other outcomes. The aim of the current analysis was (i) to characterize first ∼1000 patients recruited to the study; and (ii) to identify any differences between biologic and non-biologic patients. Methods: Biologics-naïve patients who meet the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society imaging definition of axial-SpA are recruited from rheumatology departments across the UK and classified as either biologics patients (those commencing Adalimumab or Etanercept), or non-biologic patients. Clinical data are extracted from medical records, including measures of physical function [Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI)], laboratory markers (ESR, CRP, HLA-B27) and presence of extra-spinal manifestations. Patient questionnaires collect data on disease activity [Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)], pain, fatigue (Chalder Fatigue Scale) and quality of life (ASQoL 0–18).