Remission rates of patients with axial spondyloarthritis in a tertiary care center

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate remission rates in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) using cross-sectional data. METHODS: Adult patients with axSpA and ≥2 prior visits were included. Patient's characteristics and outcome measures for disease activity and physical function were documented at enrolment (enrolment visit). Remission was defined as ASDAS <1.3 and sustained remission (SR) as ASDAS <1.3 for at least 6 consecutive months. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate ORs, 95% CIs and p-values for factors associated with remission. RESULTS: 200 patients were studied for a mean 82.6 (SD 58.6) months. ASDAS at enrolment visit was 2.0 (1.0). 117 patients (58.5%) achieved ASDAS remission at least once during observation. Remission was reached 37.7 (44.5) months after start of treatment in our hospital (index visit). 44 patients achieved remission within the first year (37.6%), 20 (17.1%), 13 (11.1%) and 40 (34.2%) after 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Remission duration was 9.9 (16.8) months. 51 patients (43.6%) achieved sustained remission for ≥ 6 consecutive months. High CRP (OR 1.35 (1.10, 1.73)) and lower BASDAI (OR 0.72 (0.53, 0.97)) at index visit were associated with achieving remission at least once. CONCLUSION: Remission is an attainable outcome for patients with axSpA in usual care. High CRP and low BASDAI at index visit were associated with remission. Most patients were in remission within the first two years of treatment but there were also patients whose first remission were after more than five years of follow up.