Clinical and demographic findings of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis treated in a tertiary care center in Turkey

Authors: ÖZLEM CEMEROĞLU, ZEYNEP SILA YAŞAR, MUSTAFA SAĞLAM, HAŞİM ÇAKIRBAY

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are 2 common rheumatic diseases that are frequent causes of disability. In this descriptive study, demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings of patients with RA and AS being followed in a tertiary care center in Turkey were reported. Materials and methods: The patient data of 45 RA and 45 AS cases were collected retrospectively from electronic medical records. Demographic findings, clinical and laboratory assessments of disease activity, drugs used for the treatment, and effect on quality of life of patients with RA and AS were analyzed. Results: In RA patients, 27% had mild, 44% had moderate, and 29% had severe disease and 25% of the patients had satisfactory functional state. In AS patients, the mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score was 4.6 ± 2.3 and 64% had active disease. Sixteen percent of the patients with AS reported satisfactory functional state. In RA cases, the highest percentage of patients were treated with biological agents. In AS cases, 24% of patients were treated with NSAIDs and 22% received biological agents. Conclusion: In our tertiary care center, the majority of patients with RA and AS had active disease with unsatisfactory functional states.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, demographics

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