Spondyloarthritis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a prospective hospital-based study

Abstract
Objectives: To determine the spectrum of SpA in outpatients with rheumatic complaints attending two rheumatology practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Design: A descriptive prospective multicenter outpatient study.
Setting: The present study analyzed 6 months data (from December 1st, 2012 till May 31st, 2013).
Participants: 984 consecutive outpatients were studied.
Interventions: none
Primary and secondary outcome measures: A clinical diagnosis of SpA was made and several classification criteria were applied afterwards. Sacroiliac joint radiographic lesions were scored with the modified New York criteria. BASDAI and BASFI were evaluated in axial SpA. The primary end point was the prevalence of SpA and the secondary endpoints were the spectrum of SpA and its subtypes.
Results: One hundred and five patients (10.7%) were diagnosed among 984 consecutive outpatients with a sex ratio (male to female) of 1.4. The average age at disease onset was 41.3±12.4 years. Non-r...