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.
Department of Primary Health Care, University of Keele.
M R
MR
Underwood
P
P
Dawes
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