Title |
The prevalence of clinically diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis and its clinical manifestations: a nationwide register study
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Published in |
Arthritis Research & Therapy, May 2015
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DOI | 10.1186/s13075-015-0627-0 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Sofia Exarchou, Ulf Lindström, Johan Askling, Jonas K Eriksson, Helena Forsblad-d’Elia, Martin Neovius, Carl Turesson, Lars Erik Kristensen, Lennart TH Jacobsson |
Abstract |
Prevalence estimates of ankylosing spondylitis vary considerably, and there are few nationwide estimates. The present study aimed to describe the national prevalence of clinically diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis in Sweden, stratified according to age, sex, geographical, and socio-economic factors, and according to subgroups with ankylosing spondylitis-related clinical manifestations and pharmacological treatment. All individuals diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis according to the World Health Organization International Classification of Disease codes, between 1967 and 2009, were identified from the National Patient Register. Data regarding disease manifestations, patient demographics, level of education, pharmacological treatment, and geographical region were retrieved from the National Patient Register and other national registers. A total of 11,030 cases with an ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis (alive, living in Sweden, and 16 to 64 years old in December 2009) were identified in the National Patient Register, giving a point prevalence of 0.18% in 2009. The prevalence was higher in northern Sweden, and lower in those with a higher level of education. Men had a higher prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (0.23% versus 0.14%, P < 0.001), a higher frequency of anterior uveitis (25.5% versus 20.0%, P < 0.001) and were more likely to receive tumor necrosis factor inhibitors than women (15.6% versus 11.8% in 2009, P < 0.001). Women were more likely than men to have peripheral arthritis (21.7% versus 15.3%, P < 0.001), psoriasis (8.0% versus 6.9%, P = 0.03), and treatment with oral corticosteroids (14.0% versus 10.4% in 2009, P < 0.001). This nationwide, register-based study demonstrated a prevalence of clinically diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis of 0.18%. It revealed phenotypical and treatment differences between the sexes, as well as geographical and socio-economic differences in disease prevalence. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 113 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 20 | 18% |
Student > Master | 18 | 16% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 15 | 13% |
Student > Postgraduate | 9 | 8% |
Researcher | 7 | 6% |
Other | 18 | 16% |
Unknown | 27 | 24% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 53 | 46% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 7 | 6% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 6 | 5% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 5 | 4% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 4 | 4% |
Other | 8 | 7% |
Unknown | 31 | 27% |