Field testing and clinical validation of the mSQUASH to measure physical activity in patients with Sjögren's disease.

Objectives: Regular physical activity is recommended in patients with rheumatic diseases. In order to uniformly measure physical activity, our aim was to perform field testing of the modified Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health enhancing physical activity (mSQUASH) in Sjögren's disease (SjD), together with other rheumatic diseases, and to investigate construct validity and test-retest reliability of the mSQUASH in patients with SjD.

Methods: The mSQUASH was tested by conducting semi-structured interviews in patients with SjD (n=10), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=10), giant cell arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica (n=10) and axial spondyloarthritis (n=13) to check for understandability, interpretation and relevance.

Central sensitization has major impact on quality of life in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Introduction: Persistent pain has large potential impact on quality of life (QoL). During the course of the disease, many patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) report persistent pain. Central sensitization (CS) may explain part of this chronic pain.

Central sensitization, illness perception and obesity should be considered when interpreting disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: Many patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) report persistent pain even when treated with anti-inflammatory agents. Our aim was to explore the presence of central sensitization (CS) and different types of illness perceptions in patients with axSpA, and to assess their associations with disease activity assessments.

Methods: Consecutive outpatients from the Groningen Leeuwarden Axial Spondyloarthritis (GLAS) cohort were included.

Ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score is related to NSAID use, especially in patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are regarded as the cornerstone of conventional treatment for AS. However little is known about concomitant NSAID use during treatment (with TNF-α inhibitors) in daily clinical practice.

Methods And Findings: Consecutive patients from the GLAS cohort were included.