High Disease Activity Of Ankylosing Spondylitis In The Community Before The Introduction Of Tumour Necrosis Factor Blockers

Before the introduction of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents, the management of ankylosing spondylitis was mainly limited to physical exercise and the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.1–3 To estimate the ankylosing spondylitis disease status in conventionally treated patients, we performed a community-based cross-sectional postal survey before TNF blocking agents became available in Austria. Between January and April 2003, a questionnaire to assess ankylosing spondylitis disease activity, function and pain levels using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was distributed to all 1400 members of the Austrian ankylosing spondylitis patient’s association treated in the …