BCR 2019 – 23rd Belgian Congress on Rheumatology
2-4 October 2019 | Leuven Belgic
The Royal Belgian Society of Rheumatology will hold the 23rd Belgian Congress of Rheumatology. With the participation of master lectures and oral communications of the latest generation.
The HTR group will participate in the Congress with the presentation of the following poster:
Disease Burden in Axial Spondyloarthritis from a patient’s perspective: Belgian subanalysis of the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) survey
Lenaerts J, Garrido-Cumbrera M, Allewaert K, Avau A
Abstract
Background
Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) is a chronic auto-inflammatory disease affecting primarily the axial skeleton (sacroiliac joints and spine). AxSpA patients experience limitations in daily activities due to chronic pain, physical restrictions and disability. In Belgium, clinical and radiological features of the disease have been studied in national cohorts, like ASPECT (1023 patients) 1. Although the number of research initiatives in the field is increasing, the patient perspective remains poorly explored and understood. With the cross-sectional European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) survey, the impact of the disease on the physical, professional, social life, and psychological aspects of axSpA patients was investigated2.
Methods
The EMAS questionnaire was adapted to the European context from the pilot survey ‘Spanish Atlas of Axial Spondyloarthritis 2017’3. Disease activity was evaluated using BASDAI while psychological distress with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥18 years; resident of European country; self-reported diagnosis of axSpA; visit to a healthcare professional in the past 12 months. Belgian patients were recruited by the market research agency GfK through their existing database of respondents.
Results
Of the 2846 participating self-reported axSpA patients, 76 (2.7%) had the Belgian nationality. Half of the Belgian patients were male; the mean age was 43 years. The mean diagnostic delay was 3.6 years, compared to 7.4 years among the total European sample. Most Belgian patients reported inflammation at the lumbar region and stiffness. 9 out of 10 Belgian patients had a BASDAI>4. 33% received biological treatments. The three most frequently declared comorbidities were linked to psychological distress (sleep disorders, depression and anxiety), followed by obesity/overweight. 70% reported difficulties in finding a job due to the disease and 46% required a workplace adaptation. Symptom onset had a negative impact on relationships, especially with work colleagues (54%), but also with friends (30%) and family (26%). Limitations of the survey are the self-reported diagnosis, and the small sample size.
Conclusion
Although diagnostic delay in Belgian patients is rather short in comparison with other EMAS countries, the burden of disease remains high. By highlighting the patient’s perspective, EMAS aims to emphasize the need of a holistic management and a good communication between patient and physician.
References: 1Vander Cruyssen et al. 2007. Ann Rheum Dis. 66(8):1072-7. 2Garrido-Cumbrera et al. 2019. Curr Rheumatol Rep; 21(5):19. 3Garrido-Cumbrera et al. 2019. Reumatol Clin. 15(3):127-132
Congress web link:
23rd Belgian Congress on Rheumatology
