Inflammatory back pain in primary care.
Three-hundred-and-thirteen back pain sufferers completed a screening questionnaire for inflammatory back pain. This was positive in 46 (15%), who were invited for a further examination. Only two of these patients had definite ankylosing spondylitis. Eighteen of them (39%) had other features associated with spondyloarthropathy. It is suggested that up to 5% of back pain sufferers may have a mild form of ankylosing spondylitis that may never progress to definite ankylosis, but for whom treatment as if they had ankylosing spondylitis may be of benefit.
Underwood
M R
MR
Department of Primary Health Care, University of Keele.
Dawes
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires