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Methods. Patients completed BASDAI and BASFI questionnaires
annually from 1996 to 2001. Demographic and clinical
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data were collected.
The mean .rst and last recorded scores were compared. The change per year and
area under the curve per
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year for the BASDAI and
BASFI were calculated. Relationships between demographic, clinical and
longitudinal BASDAI/
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BASFI data were
examined. Subgroup analyses were performed using the cross-sectional and
longitudinal data.
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Results. Two hundred and seventy-nine BASDAI and 322 BASFI
questionnaires were analysed. The BASFI increased [mean
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change 6.15, 95%
con.dence interval (CI) 1.9, 10.3, P=0.005] but the
BASDAI did not (mean change 0.87, 95% CI 3.96,
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5.7, P=0.71). First recorded scores were the best predictors
of the cumulative scores per year. Patients with peripheral joint
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(P=0.01) and hip (P<0.001) disease had higher mean BASFI scores. Males
(P<0.001)
and patients with spinal disease alone
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(P=0.0014), iritis (P=0.005) and
late-onset AS (P=0.002) became
more functionally impaired over time.
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