Differences Between Women and Men With Recent‐Onset Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From a Prospective Multicenter French Cohort

Abstract

Women with early axial SpA according to the ASAS criteria had greater disease activity when measured by the BASDAI and worse functioning despite fewer radiologic abnormalities than men. The differences in disease expression may be confounding factors to establish the diagnosis of SpA and to assess disease activity in women, suggesting that the imaging arm is a pivotal measure in the ASAS criteria.