Prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis and related spondyloarthritides in an urban area of Izmir, Turkey.

Abstract

This epidemiological study suggests a high prevalence (0.49%) of AS in an adult urban population from western Turkey, which equals that of rheumatoid arthritis in the same population. The overall prevalence of SpA, including AS, was 1.05%. A minimal male predominance was noted among AS patients, which disappeared among the whole group of patients with SpA.