Rheumatology ·
ASPI shows reliability and feasibility in routine axSpA care
A prospective observational cohort study assessed the ankylosing spondylitis performance index (ASPI) in 39 adults with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), including 32 on stable treatment. The measure had excellent test–retest reliability and high completion, although larger studies are needed to assess its use across clinical settings.
- Test–retest reliability was excellent (ICCs 0.90–0.91).
- Baseline completion rate was 92%.
- Patients rated annual administration favorably.
- Larger studies are needed across clinical settings.
Physical function is often limited in axSpA. The ASPI is a performance-based measure derived from items in the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). This prospective observational cohort evaluated its reliability and feasibility in routine care among 39 patients aged 18–70 years; 32 were receiving stable treatment. ASPI was performed at baseline and three months, and patient-reported outcomes were used to assess feasibility.
Test–retest reliability was excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.90–0.91. Bland–Altman analysis found a systematic bias of 0.1 seconds and limits of agreement from −4.4 to 4.6 seconds. Completion at baseline was 92%. Patients rated perceived burden at a median of 5 on a 0–10 scale, where 0 indicated no burden, and rated annual administration at a median of 10 on a 1–10 favorability scale.
The findings support ASPI as a potentially useful complementary performance-based measure alongside patient-reported outcomes. The cohort was small, and the authors note that larger studies are needed to evaluate implementation in diverse clinical settings; the results do not establish that using ASPI improves clinical outcomes.
In practice
In adults with axSpA, the ASPI showed excellent test–retest reliability and was generally feasible in a small routine-care cohort, suggesting it may complement patient-reported measures of physical function. The study does not show that ASPI-guided care improves outcomes or establish broad implementation. Its small sample and limited range of clinical settings mean the findings should be considered supportive rather than definitive evidence for routine adoption.
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Clinical Rheumatology: Reliability and feasibility of the ankylosing spondylitis performance index (ASPI) in routine clinical care for patients with axial spondyloarthritis ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.