Prevalence of spondyloarthritis symptom in inflammatory bowel disease patients: A questionnaire survey.

OBJECTIVES

We clarified the prevalence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) symptom in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

We performed the questionnaire survey of SpA symptom in IBD patients on their office visit.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty seven patients were evaluated. The SpA features group included 46 (33.6%) patients (32 Men). Among them there were 22 Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 24 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The patients had a mean age of 48.3 years with a mean disease duration of 12.3 years. Non-SpA group (66.4%) included 91 patients (49 Men). Among them there were 27 CD patients and 64 UC patients. The patients had a mean age of 43.3 years with a mean disease duration of 9.2 years. In univariate analysis, the SpA group (33.6%) had longer disease duration than non-SpA group (p < 0.05). However, age at onset and sex were not significantly different among the groups. Multivariate analysis showed that disease duration was independently associated with SpA symptom (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1-1.09; p = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of SpA symptom was relatively higher than what we had expected. Physicians should consider SpA when they observe IBD patients with arthralgia, and refer them to an appropriate department if needed.