Supplementary Files
Keywords
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Disease Progression
Biological Products
Treatment Outcome
How to Cite
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cumulative Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) usage in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) using the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS)-NSAID score and to assess its changes following the initiation of biological Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (bDMARDs) or targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs).
Methods: A quasi-experimental cross-sectional study was conducted at the Rheumatology Clinic, Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, from July to December 2024. Sixty patients with Spondyloarthritis (SpA), diagnosed per ASAS criteria, were enrolled. The ASAS-NSAID score was calculated at baseline and, for 43 patients receiving b/tsDMARDs, reassessed after six months. Disease activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP). Statistical analyses included the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: Of 60 patients (73.3% male, mean age 32.97 ± 8.69 years), the baseline mean ASAS-NSAID score was 30.15 ± 25.63. In the 43 patients receiving b/tsDMARDs, the score significantly decreased to 1.28 ± 1.80 (p < 0.001) post-treatment. The ASAS-NSAID score showed a statistically significant association with disease activity, as measured by BASDAI (p = 0.007), and with NSAID dosage groups (p = 0.002; Kruskal-Wallis test). No significant association was found with ASDAS-CRP (p = 0.242), NSAID type (p = 0.107), or gender (p = 0.069).
Conclusions: The ASAS-NSAID score effectively quantifies NSAID use in AS, with significant reduction post-b/tsDMARDs, highlighting their NSAID-sparing effect and supporting early biologic intervention to minimize NSAID-related risks.
Keywords: Spondylitis, Ankylosing; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Disease Progression; Biological Products; Treatment Outcome.
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