A Benchmarking Study Evaluating Axial Spondyloarthritis Burden in Spain and Other European Countries. Results from the Spanish Atlas and the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) Studies

Aim To compare the burden of disease in Spanish patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) vs other European countries (OEC). Methods Data from 2846 unselected patients from the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) and the Atlas of Axial Spondyloarthritis in Spain (Atlas) were collected through online surveys. Comparative analysis was carried out between Spanish patients (2016) and patients from 12 OEC ( 2017‐2018). Socio‐demographic characteristics, life habits, and patient‐reported outcomes (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index 0‐10, spinal stiffness 3‐12, functional limitation 0‐54, the 12‐Item General Health Questionnaire [GHQ‐12] for psychological distress 0‐12) were compared. Chi‐square and Mann‐Whitney tests were used for qualitative and quantitative variables respectively. Results 680 (23.9%) Spanish axSpA patients were compared to 2166 axSpA patients (76.1%) from OEC. Compared to Spain, the OEC group had a higher percentage of females (64.1% vs 52.5%; P