CRP level, VAS and BAS scores during the first (n=1436), second (n=432) and third treatment course (n=137)
| Treatment course | Treatment duration | p | p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 months | 3 months | 6 months | 0 vs 3 months | 0 vs 6 months | |
| CRP (mg/l) | |||||
| 1 | 13 (5.0–26) | 4.0 (1.0–9.0) | 4.0 (1.0–9.0) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 8.0 (2.0–20) | 5.0 (2.0–11) | 3.0 (1.0–7.0) | 0.09 | 0.001 |
| 3 | 9.0 (3.0–21) | 4.0 (1.0–12) | 6.0 (2.0–11) | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| VAS fatigue (mm) | |||||
| 1 | 68 (50–81) | 33 (16–60) | 32 (12–61) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 68 (47–82) | 49 (17–74) | 41 (17–69) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 3 | 71 (60–82) | 61 (39–84) | 54 (31–78) | 0.02 | 0.04 |
| VAS global (mm) | |||||
| 1 | 68 (49–81) | 25 (11–51) | 24 (10–52) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 68 (45–81) | 38 (12–67) | 36 (15–65) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 3 | 71 (56–85) | 60 (46–76) | 57 (30–76) | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| VAS pain (mm) | |||||
| 1 | 65 (46–78) | 22 (9–48) | 20 (9–47) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 62 (40–78) | 36 (12–62) | 31 (11–56) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 3 | 66 (45–83) | 57 (40–74) | 48 (28–75) | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| BASDAI (mm) | |||||
| 1 | 59 (45–71) | 28 (11–48) | 28 (11–50) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 56 (38–73) | 36 (19–64) | 33 (16–59) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 3 | 64 (48–79) | 51 (36–67) | 52 (28–63) | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| BASFI (mm) | |||||
| 1 | 50 (34–67) | 28 (11–48) | 28 (11–50) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 52 (35–70) | 36 (17–60) | 41 (17–58) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 3 | 64 (42–79) | 51 (30–73) | 52 (38–74) | 0.02 | 0.04 |
| BASMI | |||||
| 1 | 40 (20–60) | 20 (10–50) | 30 (10–50) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 30 (20–50) | 30 (10–40) | 30 (10–50) | 0.08 | 0.007 |
| 3 | 40 (20–60) | 35 (20–50) | 40 (20–50) | 0.03 | 0.006 |
Results from Wilcoxon signed rank test. Values are medians and IQR.
Outcome data were reported according to the registrations in DANBIO at the following time-points: 0 months (upon initiation of therapy), 3 months (10–17 weeks), 6 months (18–32 weeks). If more 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 AS Disease Activity Index; BASFI, Bath AS Function Index; BASMI, Bath AS Metrology Index; CRP, C reactive protein; VAS, visual analogue scale.