OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological features of back pain, spondyloarthritis (SpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Beijing Shougang district. METHODS: Set up Chinese version of questionnaire about incidence of spondyloarthropathy. Employees and retired ones were drawn out from sub-factory units by non-randomized sampling.15 357 subjects were investigated, of which 12 125 questionnaires were taken. Suspected cases were then screened with sacroiliac joint X ray and HLA-B(27) testing. 2009 assessment in ankylosing spondylitis (ASAS) criteria were used for diagnosing SpA. RESULTS: Back pain is common with total incidence of 42.7%, and the most common pattern is mechanical pain. The incidence of SpA is 0.58% and that of AS is 0.36%, while only 28.9% AS patients had been diagnosed before and received treatment. CONCLUSION: The AS incidence in Shougang district is similar with the epidemiological data got from other districts of China. And knowledge of SpA and AS is needed in China.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological features of back pain, spondyloarthritis (SpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Beijing Shougang district. METHODS: Set up Chinese version of questionnaire about incidence of spondyloarthropathy. Employees and retired ones were drawn out from sub-factory units by non-randomized sampling.15 357 subjects were investigated, of which 12 125 questionnaires were taken. Suspected cases were then screened with sacroiliac joint X ray and HLA-B(27) testing. 2009 assessment in ankylosing spondylitis (ASAS) criteria were used for diagnosing SpA. RESULTS:Back pain is common with total incidence of 42.7%, and the most common pattern is mechanical pain. The incidence of SpA is 0.58% and that of AS is 0.36%, while only 28.9% AS patients had been diagnosed before and received treatment. CONCLUSION: The AS incidence in Shougang district is similar with the epidemiological data got from other districts of China. And knowledge of SpA and AS is needed in China.