Table 2

Disease activity at baseline and during follow-up

Follow-up time
Outcome (median (IQR))
Baseline2 Weeks6 Weeks6 Months1 Year2 Years3 Years4 Years5 Years
CRP (mg/l)14 (7–27)4 (2–8)*4 (2–10)*5 (2–10)*5 (2–10)*5 (2–10)*5 (2–10)*6 (3–10)*9 (3–16)*
BASDAI (mm)59 (44–72)36 (19–56)*26 (12–49)*26 (11–45)*21 (8–39)*21 (8–41)*20 (8–36)*20 (7–32)*20 (6–32)*
BASFI (mm)50 (34–67)37 (19–55)*31 (13–50)*28 (10–46)*24 (9–45)*24 (9–44)*22 (10–43)*22 (9–41)*34 (17–62)
BASMI (mm)40 (20–50)30 (10–50)*30 (10–50)*30 (10–43)*20 (10–40)*30 (10–50)*20 (10–40)*40 (10–50)**40 (20–70)
Thorax excursion (cm)3 (2–5)3 (2–5)*4 (3–5)*4 (2–5)*4 (2–5)*4 (2–5)**4 (2–5)***4 (3–5)**3 (2–5)
VAS pain (mm)65 (45–78)30 (14–56)*22 (10–46)*20 (9–48)*19 (7–40)*18 (5–39)*17 (6–26)*15 (6–28)*23 (7–35)*
VAS fatigue (mm)68 (48–81)49 (20–70)*34 (14–62)*33 (14–59)*29 (9–52)*25 (6–45)*18 (7–41)*41 (4–42)*23 (10–53)
VAS global (mm)67 (48–81)36 (15–60)*26 (11–51)*24 (10–51)*20 (8–44)*18 (6–40)*18 (8–37)*18 (7–33)*21 (11–49)*
Patients treated (n†)84281879469650434521313961
Patients with a visit (n)74539545851539026416812839

  • ↵* p<0.001 compared with baseline,

  • ↵** 0.001<p<0.01,

  • ↵*** 0.01<p<0.05.

  • ↵† Among patients with incomplete follow-up data (n=39), follow-up time is estimated according to the latest visit registered in DANBIO.

  • The baseline visit was the time point at which the patient received the first dose of TNFα inhibitor. Outcome data were reported according to the registrations in DANBIO at the following time points: 2 weeks of treatment (time interval 1–4 weeks), 6 weeks (5–9 weeks), 6 months (18–32 weeks), 1 year (46–64 weeks), 2 years (91–117 weeks), 3 years (143–182 weeks), 4 years (183–233 weeks), 5 years (234–285 weeks) and 6 years (286–338 weeks). If more DANBIO registrations occurred within a given time interval, the one closest to the given time point was selected. If a patient had no registrations within a given time interval, data were registered as missing for the given time point.

  • BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; BASMI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index; CRP, C-reactive protein; TNFα, tumour necrosis factor α; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.