title: Evaluation of the European Spondylarthropathy Study Group preliminary classification criteria in Alaskan Eskimo populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the preliminary classification criteria proposed by the European Spondylarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) in Alaskan Eskimo populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined, interviewed, and reviewed the records of 104 Eskimo patients with spondylarthropathy and 75 with other rheumatic disorders, and evaluated them according to the proposed criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an overall sensitivity of 88.5% and a specificity of 89.3%, which is similar to the reported values in European populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ESSG criteria performed well in a population very different from that in which they were developed, and deserve further evaluation as a much-needed and useful epidemiologic tool.
authors.affiliation: Alaska Area Native Health Service, Anchorage.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Templin
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Goring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*