Discrepancies in the assessment of axial spondyloarthritis between patients and rheumatologists: what does this mean?

To explore discrepancies in disease activity assessment between patients and rheumatologists in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Significant discrepancies in VAS scores were noted, with patients generally reporting higher scores than rheumatologists.
Factors such as pain, education level, and ongoing biological treatment were associated with discordance in assessments.
Women reported higher BASDAI scores and had a higher frequency of discrepancies compared to men.
Obesity was linked to higher disease activity scores in axSpA patients.
Depression and low socioeconomic status were associated with increased disease activity scores.

Discrepancies between patient and rheumatologist assessments in axSpA are common.

The studies reviewed may have varying methodologies and sample sizes, which could affect the generalizability of findings.
The reliance on self-reported measures may introduce bias in patient assessments.

Understanding the factors influencing discrepancies in disease activity assessments is important.