Table 1. Characteristics of AxSpA participants and healthy controls.
| Variable (number unless otherwise stated) | AxSpA patients (n = 17) | Healthy controls (n = 22) |
|---|---|---|
| Female | 6 (35.3) | 7 (31.8) |
| Mean age (years; SD) | 38.0 (12.8) | 37.0 (12.7) |
| General health | ||
| Cardiovascular disease | 11 (64.0) | 0 |
| Diabetes | 1 (2.4) | 0 |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | 4 (9.8) | 0 |
| Smoking status | ||
| Never smoker | 14 (82.4) | 13 (59.1) |
| Ex-smoker | 3 (17.6) | 6 (27.3) |
| Current smoker | 0 (0.0) | 3 (13.6) |
| Number HLA B27 positive | 17 (100.0) | – |
| Evidence of sacroiliitis on imaging | ||
| Radiographic | 14 (76.5) | – |
| MRI | 2 (17.6) | – |
| None apparent on imaging | 1 (5.8) | – |
| Mean BASDAI (SD) | 4.0 (2.1) | – |
| Mean CRP (mg/L; SD) | 5.4 (5.3) | – |
Notes.
Brackets contain percentages unless otherwise specified.
- BASDAI
- Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index
- CRP
- C-reactive Protein