Comorbidity, disability, and healthcare expenditure of ankylosing spondylitis in Korea: A population-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease typically diagnosed in young age and follows a chronic progressive course. Its impact on the patient is life-long and the burden that AS exerts on society is increasing cumulatively every year. We aimed to quantify the burden of AS and to identify the factors associated with comorbidity, disability, and healthcare expenditure in Korean AS patients.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide, population-based study using health insurance data (2003-2013). The analysis included individuals with incident AS (1,111 patients) and controls (5,555 patients) matched by age, sex, income, and geographic region. The incidence rates of extra-articular manifestations (EAMs), comorbidities, mortality, and disability (type

SUBMITTER: Lee JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5805317 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature