Data from: 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-radiographical axial spondyloarthritis was the most frequent subtype
(5.0%) followed by reactive arthritis (4.3%). Other subtypes were:
ankylosing spondylitis (1.0%), psoriatic arthritis (0.1%), SAPHO syndrome
(0.1%) and IBD associated arthritis (0.1%). Mean BASDAI and BASFI in axial
SpA were 42.7/100 and 46.4/100 respectively. Peripheral enthesitis was
found in 43% of SpA patients and uveitis (10.4%) was the most frequent
extra-articular manifestation. We did not detect any family history.
Median erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein were
37(range: 7-110) mm/h and 22 (range: 4-48) mg/l respectively. Conclusions:
This hospital-based study suggests a substantial occurrence of some
subtypes of SpA in central Africa. A population-based study is needed.