Sustained low functional impairment in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA): Which are the primary outcomes that should be targeted to achieve this?

This real-world study showed that sustained BASDAI <3 may be a valid and feasible target for a treat-to-target strategy in AxSpA, having function as treatment goal.

The aim was to determine whether sustained disease activity states, BASDAI and ASDAS, impact function. Generalized estimating equations were used to test baseline characteristics, treatment, and duration (at 6 and 12 months vs. only at 6 or 12 months vs. neither) of low BASDAI (<3), ASDAS-inactive disease (ID) (<1.3), and ASDAS-low disease activity (LDA) in predicting sustained low Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) (<3) between 12 and 18 months.

Eight hundred ten patients were enrolled. 33.7%, 13.4%, and 24.7% achieved sustained low BASDAI, ASDAS-ID and ASDAS-LDA, respectively. Achievement of low BASDAI, ASDAS-ID, and ASDAS-LDA was sustained at 6 and 12 months.

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