Table 2.

Comparison between patients with and without functional improvement (BASMI and BASFI) (t test or Mann–Whitney U test for unpaired samples)

	Patients with BASMI improvement (n = 89)	Patients with no BASMI improvement (n = 91)	p value	Patients with BASFI improvement (n = 117)	Patients with no BASFI improvement (n = 64)	p value
Male sex	51.8%	48.2%	n.s	69.9%	31.1%	0.01
Female sex	40%	60%		50%	50%
Age; median (IQR)	43 (33–54.5)	41.5 (33–52)	n.s	41.(33–52.2)	44 (33.5–55.5)	n.s
Disease duration; median (IQR)	4 (1.2–9)	8 (2.25–15)	0.02	5 (1.2–12)	8 (3–15)	0.03
PtGA; median (IQR)	6.8 (6–7.8)	6.7 (5.5–7-9)	n.s	6.8 (6–7.7)	6.7 (5.5–8)	n.s
VAS pain; median (IQR)	7 (6–8)	6.9 (5–8.2)	n.s	7 (6–8)	6.5 (5–8.3)	0.01
Physician VAS; median (IQR)	6 (5.5–6.5)	5.5 (4.5–6.5)	0.02	6 (5–6.5)	5.5 (4.4–6.5)	0.02
BASDAI (baseline); median (IQR)	6 (5–6.7)	5.9 (4.6–5.2)	n.s	6 (5.1–6.7)	5.6 (4.4–7.2)	0.04
change in BASDAI score; median (IQR)	− 3.5 (2.4–4.4)	− 2.9 (0.75–3.89)	< 0.01	− 3.5 (2.8-.4)	− 1.1 (− 0.5 to 2.9)	< 0.01
Baseline CRP (mg/dl); median (IQR)	1.4 (1.05–2.5)	1.3 (0.6–2.6)	n.s	1.3 (0.87–2.8)	1.4 (0.75–2.45)	n.s
Baseline ESR (mm/h); median (IQR)	34 (26.5–45.5)	26.5 (13–35.2)	< 0.01	32 (23–45)	25 (11.5–35.5)	< 0.01
Presence of enthesitis*	57.1%	42.8%	n.s	68.8%	32.2%	n.s
Absence of enthesitis	41.9%	58.1%		60.9%	39.1%
Presence of grade IV sacroiliitis	43.4%	56.6%	n.s	71.7%	28.3%	n.s
Absence of grade IV sacroiliitis	51.2%	48.8%		65.5%	34.5%
Diagnosis: AS	48%	52%	n.s	64.9%	35.1%	n.s
Diagnosis: SpA	51.8%	48.2%		66.6%	33.4%

IQR interquartile range, CRP C-reactive protein, ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate, BASDAI Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, BASMI Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, BASFI Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, PtGA Patient’s Global Assessment, VAS visual analog scale

*Defined as a MASES score ≥ 1