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An increased prevalence of several comorbidities has been reported in SpA patients; the risk of developing such comorbid conditions seems to be higher in patients with SpA than in the general population. But data about such comorbid conditions in SpA patients from Latin America are
scarce. In chapter 4 comorbidities and risk factors in SpA-patients from Latin America have been investigated. A comparative analysis with the general population was performed using data from the multinational ASAS-COMOSPA study.
SpA is a condition that is characterized by inflammatory features and extra articular manifestations.
Previous studies, particularly in RA, have pointed towards a relationship between periodontitis (a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by loss of the periodontal ligament and alveolar
bone) and systemic rheumatic diseases30. But it is unclear whether SpA patients also have a higher frequency of periodontitis and data in the literature reporting a possible association is limited. Therefore, in chapter 5 we investigate and compare the frequency of periodontitis in SpA patients with that in healthy individuals from the population.
The overall picture of impairments, limitations, and restrictions in activities or social participation of patients with SpA has been aggregated in the composite ASAS Health Index31 This index captures the whole range of functioning and disability of patients with SpA. In order to make such an index performing properly, a thorough adaptation from English into Spanish (spoken in Colombia) is of pivotal importance. In chapter 6 the description of the translation and cross-culturally adaptation of the English version of the ASAS-HI into Spanish-language spoken in Colombia is presented.
The ASAS/OMERACT core outcome set has importantly facilitated the development and successful regulatory approval of new treatments in AS. However, thus far the true implementation of the
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