Clinical evaluation of ankylosing spondylitis in Switzerland.

The purpose of this study was to identify the socioeconomic conditions and clinical history of ankylosing spondylitis patients in Switzerland. Data collected from 1177 ankylosing spondylitis patients, through a mail-in questionnaire, was analyzed for epidemiological factors, clinical presentation, musculoskeletal related surgical history and socioeconomic impact. The results showed that the sex ratio, average age at onset of symptoms, latent period until diagnosis, signs and symptoms, peripheral joint involvement and the prevalence of extraarticular organ affection of our patient group all conform with the majority of the published literature. Conversely, most reports suggest a higher frequency of musculoskeletal surgery, yet a lower employment capacity than the Swiss cohort. As described in other publications, aggressive physiotherapy appeared to be linked to a reduction in long-term disability, musculoskeletal deformities and surgical intervention. It was concluded that the present cohort of ankylosing spondylitis patients underwent fewer surgeries for musculoskeletal deformities and represented a lower socioeconomic burden (relative to disability and inability to work) than most patient populations previously studied.