title: The prevalence of moderate to severe radiographic sacroiliitis and the correlation with health status in elderly Swedish men--the MrOS study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease with onset in young adults, but little is known about the prevalence in older age groups. Furthermore, there is very limited information of health status of elderly patients with AS. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of moderate to severe radiographic sacroiliitis in elderly men and its impact on health.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, population-based survey, that included 1005 men aged 69-81 years old, with the primary aim to study risk factors for osteoporosis (MrOS), was used. X-rays of the pelvis and spine were done for the whole population and then examined by two readers. The prevalences of grade 3-4 sacroiliitis, syndesmophytes and spondylophytes were ascertained. Using a self-administered questionnaire, information was obtained on physical activity (PASE), functional status (IADL items), health related quality of life - QoL (SF-12) and back pain (pain question, Quebec Pain Disability Scale items).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen cases with grade 3-4 sacroiliitis were identified, corresponding to a prevalence of 1.4% (95%CI: 0.7-2.4). Eight of the patients with sacroiliitis had both AS-typical and degenerative changes in the spine, 4 had only degenerative changes and 2 had only AS-related changes. There were no statistically significant differences between those with and without radiographic sacroiliitis regarding demographics, anthropometric measures, smoking status or health status, reflected by measures on physical activity, functional status, health related QoL and back pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of moderate to severe radiographic sacroiliitis was estimated to be 1.4% among elderly men in Sweden. Self-reported health was only slightly different in those with sacroiliitis, suggesting that the relative impact of AS is modest in this age group.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. sofiaexar@hotmail.com.
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Exarchou
authors: Inga
authors: I
authors: Redlund-Johnell
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Karlsson
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Mellström
authors: Claes
authors: C
authors: Ohlsson
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Turesson
authors: Lars Erik
authors: LE
authors: Kristensen
authors: Lennart
authors: L
authors: Jacobsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D058566:Sacroiliitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology