Functional Status Impacts Employability and
Disability Compensation*
274 patients with active AS
Mean age 39.8 years
81% Male
n = 116
n = 96
n = 66
n = 116
n = 96
n = 66
van der Heijde D., et al.,
ACR
2004; Poster.
* Adjusted for Age and Sex
Do you categorize patients as having mild, moderate, severe disease?
Do you use some other method to categorize patients – early disease, established disease?
How do you currently assess a patient’s likelihood of progression in AS?
Do you believe that earlier intervention with biologics leads to better clinical outcomes?
If treated early and aggressively, do you believe that the natural course of AS can be altered?