Objectives:

This study aimed to evaluate the 10-year clinical outcome of patients with recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods:

Study design: The DESIR cohort is an inception cohort of axSpA patients.

Diagnosis and management:

The diagnosis and management of patients were based on the decision of the treating rheumatologist.

Statistical analysis:

Both complete cases and imputed data analyses were conducted.

Results:

Of the 708 enrolled patients, 45 were excluded due to a change in the baseline diagnosis, 3 patients died, and 300 were lost to follow-up over the 10y. In the completer population, one patient required bilateral total hip replacement, and 56 patients received a pension due to invalidity. The prevalence of main extra-musculoskeletal features increased from baseline to year 10: psoriasis from 18% to 30%, acute anterior uveitis from 10% to 18%, and inflammatory bowel disease from 5% to 10%. The most frequent comorbidity was hypertension, with an increase from 5% to 15% from baseline to year 10. In the imputed data analysis the estimated proportions of patients with an acceptable status at year 10 were 70% [95% CI: 63; 77] for acceptable PASS, 43% [95% CI: 37; 49] for BASDAI < 3, and 48% [95% CI: 41; 56] for ASDAS < 2.1.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that despite a quite favorable 10-year outcome exists for severe outcomes, a large proportion of patients present with an important disease burden reflected by patient-reported outcomes. This information can be valuable for providing patients with information at the time of diagnosis.