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Background
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory condition that is marked by back pain, sacroilitis, excessive growth of spinal bone, and high prevalence of HLA-B27, that results in disability and skeletal abnormalities in patients [1]. It typically manifests in early adulthood, yet diagnosis is often delayed by 8 to 11 years [2, 3]. As AS advances, it often results in physical limitations that negatively impact quality of life and work productivity [4, 5–6]. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial to avoid these irreversible consequences [7, 8–9].
Globally, Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) impacts approximately 0.9% of the worldwide population [10]. An analysis of 36 studies revealed varying prevalence rates of AS, with averages per 10,000 people at approximately 24 in Europe, 17 in Asia, 32 in North America, 10 in Latin America, and 7 in Africa [11]. Furthermore, a national survey conducted in Bangladesh indicated that the prevalence of spondyloarthropathy within the adult population was assessed to be around 1.2% [12].
The aim of this study was to explore the clinic-epidemiological profile of ankylosing spondylitis in patients living in Bangladesh.
Methods
Study design and subjects
This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Rheumatology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from January 2013 to September 2014. BSMMU is situated in the capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh and is the largest postgraduate medical institution [13].
All patient aged ≥ 18 years with inflammatory low back pain fulfilling the Modified New York (1984) criteria [4] for Ankylosing spondylitis were included. The AS patients were diagnosed with both clinical and radiological criteria [14].. A definitive diagnosis of AS was confirmed when “Any of the radiological criteria are combined with at least one clinical criterion”.
In this study, 119 patients diagnosed with AS according to the modified New York criteria were initially considered. However, 16 individuals were excluded due to both missing data and a lack of willingness to participate. Consequently, the final cohort consisted of 93 patients diagnosed with AS.
Study procedure and parameters
Particulars of patients were collected in the preformed questionnaire; which comprised of questions related to demographic-profile, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings of the AS patients. The assessment of each patient's Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) was conducted using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity...