External Validation of a Referral Rule for Axial Spondyloarthritis in Primary Care Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To validate and optimize a referral rule to identify primary care patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) suspected for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Design

Cross-sectional study with data from 19 Dutch primary care practices for development and 38 for validation.

Participants

Primary care patients aged 18-45 years with CLBP existing more than three months and onset of back pain started before the age of 45 years.

Main outcome

The number of axSpA patients according to the ASAS criteria.

Methods

The referral rule (CaFaSpA referral rule) was developed using 364 CLBP patients from 19 primary care practices and contains four easy to use variables; inflammatory back pain, good response to nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs, family history o

SUBMITTER: van Hoeven L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4511700 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature