Clinico-epidemiological characteristics of patients with ankylosing spondylitis: experience from a specialized rheumatology centre in Bangladesh

BackgroundDue to limited data on Ankylosing Spondylitis patients in Bangladesh, our cross-sectional study sought to assess the clinical characteristics and disease status of individuals with Ankylosing Spondylitis in this population.MethodsPatients who met the Modified New York criteria (1984) were included after obtaining written informed consent. Disease activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), while functional status was assessed with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) scales.ResultsAmong the 93 confirmed cases, the mean age of the patients were 29.8 +/- 9.3 (SD) years and majority were males (90.3%). The mean duration of symptoms was 64.8 +/- 43.8 months. Comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension were reported in 5.4% and 8.6% of the patients respectively. History of inflammatory back pain was reported by all patients and 25.8% were HLA-B27 positive. All patients had active disease status (>= 4 BASDAI score) and exhibited a higher disease activity (mean BASDAI:6.72 +/- 1.3), accompanied by greater functional limitations (mean BASFI: 6.01 +/- 2.3) and mild restrictions in spinal mobility (mean BASMI: 2.32 +/- 2.3). A positive correlation was observed between higher BASDAI scores and increased CRP levels (r = 0.27, p = 0.010).ConclusionMost of the patients in our study had experienced prolonged symptoms duration, elevated disease activity scores, restricted functional abilities, and increased levels of inflammatory markers. Emphasizing the significance of early and precise Ankylosing Spondylitis diagnosis becomes imperative in preventing irreversible structural damage and improving the quality of life of the patients.