Emma Haglund

European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2015 update

Background Since the publication of the European League Against Rheumatism recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in 2012, new evidence and new therapeutic agents have emerged. The objective was to update these recommendations. Methods A systematic literature review was performed regarding pharmacological treatment in PsA. Subsequently, recommendations were formulated based on the evidence and the expert opinion of the 34 Task Force members. Levels of evidence and strengths of recommendations were allocated. Results The updated recommendations comprise 5 overarching principles and 10 recommendations, covering pharmacological therapies for PsA from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to conventional synthetic (csDMARD) and biological (bDMARD) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, whatever their mode of action, taking articular and extra-articular manifestations of PsA into account, but focusing on musculoskeletal involvement. The overarching principles address the need for shared decision-making and treatment objectives. The recommendations address csDMARDs as an initial therapy after failure of NSAIDs and local therapy for active disease, followed, if necessary, by a bDMARD or a targeted synthetic DMARD (tsDMARD). The first bDMARD would usually be a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor. bDMARDs targeting interleukin (IL)12/23 (ustekinumab) or IL-17 pathways (secukinumab) may be used in patients for whom TNF inhibitors are inappropriate and a tsDMARD such as a phosphodiesterase 4-inhibitor (apremilast) if bDMARDs are inappropriate. If the first bDMARD strategy fails, any other bDMARD or tsDMARD may be used. Conclusions These recommendations provide stakeholders with an updated consensus on the pharmacological treatment of PsA and strategies to reach optimal outcomes in PsA, based on a combination of evidence and expert opinion.

Prevalence of spondyloarthritis and its subtypes in southern Sweden

Objective To estimate the prevalence of spondyloarthritis and its subtypes. Methods The Swedish healthcare organisation comprises a system where all inpatient and outpatient care is registered by a personal identifier. For the calendar years 2003–7, all residents aged ≥15 years in the southernmost county of Sweden (1.2 million inhabitants) diagnosed by a physician with spondyloarthritis (ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), inflammatory arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (Aa-IBD) or undifferentiated spondylarthritis (USpA)) were identified. To obtain valid point estimates of prevalence by the end of 2007, identification numbers were cross-referenced with the population register to exclude patients who had died or relocated. Results The authors estimated the prevalence of spondyloarthritis (not including chronic reactive arthritis) as 0.45% (95% CI 0.44% to 0.47%). The mean (SD) age of patients with prevalent spondyloarthritis by the end of 2007 was 53 (15) years. Among the component subtypes, PsA accounted for 54% of cases, AS 21.4%, USpA 17.8% and Aa-IBD 2.3% with a prevalence of 0.25%, 0.12%, 0.10% and 0.015%, respectively. The remaining 6.4% had some form of combination of spondyloarthritis diagnoses. The prevalence of spondyloarthritis at large was about the same in men and women. However, the subtype PsA was more prevalent in women and AS was more prevalent in men. Conclusion In Sweden the prevalence of spondyloarthritis leading to a doctor consultation is not much lower than rheumatoid arthritis. PsA was the most frequent subtype followed by AS and USpA, and the two most frequent subtypes PsA and AS also display some distinct sex patterns.

Differences in physical activity patterns in patients with spondylarthritis

To study patient‐reported physical activity in patients with spondylarthritis (SpA) and possible differences in physical activity patterns between the SpA subtypes and sexes.

Work productivity in a population-based cohort of patients with spondyloarthritis

OBJECTIVE To assess work productivity and associated factors in patients with SpA. METHODS This cross-sectional postal survey included 1773 patients with SpA identified in a regional health care register. Items on presenteeism (reduced productivity at work, 0-100%, 0 = no reduction) were answered by 1447 individuals. Absenteeism was defined as register-based sick leave using data from a national register. Disease duration, disease activity (BASDAI), physical function (BASFI), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), anxiety (HAD-a), depression (HAD-d), self-efficacy [Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale (ASES) pain and symptom], physical activity and education were also measured. RESULTS Forty-five per cent reported reduced productivity at work with a mean reduction of 20% (95% CI 18, 21) and women reported a higher mean reduction than men (mean 23% vs 17%, P < 0.001). Worse quality of life, disease activity, physical function and anxiety all correlated with reduced productivity (r = 0.52-0.66, P < 0.001), while sick leave did not. Worse outcomes on the EQ-5D (β-est -9.6, P < 0.001), BASDAI (β-est 7.8, P < 0.001), BASFI (β-est 7.3, P < 0.001), ASES pain (β-est -0.5, P < 0.001) and HAD-d (β-est 3.4, P < 0.001) were associated with reduced productivity at work in patients with SpA regardless of age, gender and disease subgroup. ASES symptoms, HAD-a and education level <12 years were associated with reduced productivity but were not significant in all strata for age, gender and disease subgroup. CONCLUSION Work productivity was reduced in patients with SpA and more so in women. Worse quality of life, disease activity, physical function, self-efficacy and depression were all associated with reduced productivity at work in patients with SpA.

SAT0253 Patients With Non-As Axial SPA Have Similar Prevalence Compared to as, But Worse Perceived Health. Results from a Population Based Study.

Background Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is emerging as a treatable disease comparable to ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but less well studied. Previous studies have described a reversed gender distribution, with AS being more prevalent in the male population and non-radiographic axial SpA more prevalent in the female population. Recent studies have also indicated a similar benefit from treatment with TNF-inhibitors. Objectives The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of non-radiographic axial SpA and compare the patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) to that of AS, in Southern Sweden. Methods All health care seeking individuals, ≥18 years, given a SpA-diagnosis, according to the ICD-10 (M45.9, M072, M460, M461, M468, M469, M074, M705 and L405 or M071 or M073), either in primary or specialized care, (N = 5771), during 2003 - 2007, were identified through the regional health care register in Skåne, a county in Southern Sweden with 1.2 million inhabitants (SpAScania cohort). In 2009 they were all sent a questionnaire (response rate; 48%), including questions concerning inflammatory back pain (IBP), the SpA-associated comorbidities constituting the ASAS-criteria (IBD, Ps, Uveitis/tendinitis, heredity), PROMS (BAS-indices, VAS-pain/fatigue/global, EQ5D) and previous/current medication. Non-AS axial SpA was defined as having an ICD10 code supporting a diagnosis of SpA without having one of AS (M45.9), in combination with > 3 months of back pain the last year and the presence of ≥2 of the SpA associated comorbidities. Record review support the notion of using AS as a substitute for radiographic changes. For the “non imaging arm” of the ASAS criteria for axial disease, we used the ICD10 codes above as a substitute for HLA-B27 status. Assuming similar answers from the questionnaire non-responders, prevalence rates were estimated for non-AS axial SpA and AS. Results Among responders 742 had an AS-diagnosis and 640 fulfilled the study criteria for non-AS axial SpA. The frequency of men was 60.5% in the AS group and 29.5% in the non-AS axial SpA group. The prevalence of AS was 0.13% (95% CI; 0.115-0.148) and for non-AS axial SpA 0.11 % (95% CI; 0.096-0.130), with a reverse gender distribution. The means of the PROMs and frequency of comorbidities were higher in the non-AS axial SpA vs both the AS, and the subgroup of AS individuals reporting back pain (BP) > 3months during the last year. Self-reported present use of TNF-inhibitors were similar between the groups (Image 1). Image/graph Conclusions Prevalence rates for AS and non-AS axial SpA were similar, with a reverse gender distribution. The results suggest that at a population level the proportion with non-AS axial SpA is at least as large as that of AS and report lower levels of perceived health status and similar frequencies of SpA-related comorbidities (except psoriasis) and treatment with TNF-inhibitors, supporting the validity for the used definition in future research. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Aerobic capacity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A comparison of two submaximal test methods

BACKGROUND In a clinical setting it is important to evaluate aerobic capacity in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to have a choice between tests, owing to disability of varying severity. Two submaximal tests, a bicycle ergometer test and a treadmill walking test, are commonly used. Despite expected differences in the results, these tests have been used interchangeably. The aim of the current study was to compare the results of the two tests, the size of the difference and factors expected to influence the results. METHODS Fifty-two outpatients with RA performed the two tests. Agreement and correlations between the results of the tests were calculated. Multivariate analysis was used to study the relationships between gender, weight, health assessment questionnaire, global health assessment and the difference between the tests. RESULTS Sixty per cent of the subjects exhibited a higher estimated value of maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) in the treadmill test. The limits of agreement for the estimated VO(2max) values between the two methods ranged from -13.4 to +18.4 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1), and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(Two-way mixed)) was 0.34 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07, 0.56). Body weight was independently associated with the difference between the two tests (regression coefficient 0.3; 95% CI 0.14, 0.42). A higher body weight had a greater impact on the results of the bicycle test (R(2) = 0.28; regression coefficient -0.3; 95% CI -0.47, -0.17) than on the treadmill walking test (R(2) = 0.02; regression coefficient -0.06; 95% CI -0.14, 0.03). CONCLUSIONS It is not advisable to use the two submaximal methods interchangeably. Weight influenced the difference between the two tests, and to a higher degree in the bicycle test than the treadmill walking test.

FRI0733-HPR The educational needs of patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthritis

Background The educational needs of people with undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (USpA) have not been well studied. The educational needs assessment tool (ENAT) has been translated into Swedish and validated in other rheumatic diseases but not USpA.1 Objectives To validate the educational needs assessment tool (ENAT) in people with USpA and use it to study their educational needs. Methods A cross-sectional study recruiting a random sample of patients with USpA from a hospital register. USpA was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Disease, ICD-10 (M46.0, M46.1, M46.8, and M46.9).1 The study was approved by the Regional Ethics Board and all included patients signed an informed consent. We used a postal survey to collect data on disease activity (BASDAI) and educational needs (Swedish version of the ENAT).2 The data was then utilized to assess the construct validity, internal consistency, unidimensionality and response bias of the ENAT using Rash analysis. Given fit to the Rasch model, we transformed the ENAT ordinal scores into interval logit-based scores before deploying descriptive and inferential statistics. Total ENAT Score ranges between 0 (no needs) and 156 (the highest level of needs), and comprises seven subscales (pain 0–24, movement 0–20, feelings 0–16, disease 0–28, treatments 0–28, self-help 0–24 and support 0–16). Finally, we categorised the data by gender, age (median split) and disease activity (BASDAI split at 4) and assessed differences between patient subgroups using the students t-test. Results Complete responses were derived from 77 patients (48 women), mean (SD) age 50 (12) years, disease duration was 16 (11) years, BASDAI 4.9 (1.9) and BASFI 3.1 (2.3). When used as a 7-subscale questionnaire, the ENAT satisfied the requirements of Rasch model (c2=11.488; p=0.119) including strict unidimensionality. Overall, the mean (SD) ENAT scores for patients with USpA was 86 (32). Women reported higher needs than men in the domains of pain, mean (SD) 13.1 (6.8) vs. 10.1 (6.0), p=0.05; movement mean (SD) 13.0 (5.5) vs. 9.9 (5.7), p=0.02 and self-help, mean (SD) 17.0 (5.8) vs. 14.1 (5.0), p=0.03). Higher disease activity (BASDAI >4) was associated with higher educational needs, mean (SD) 92.6 (31.9) vs. 73.7 (29.4), p=0.02. There was no significant difference in educational needs between age groups. Conclusions The Swedish ENAT has been validated in USpA thus enabling an accurate estimation of the educational needs of people with USpA in Sweden. Our data suggest that women and patients with higher disease activity are likely to have high levels of educational needs and these groups should be targeted in educational interventions for people with USpA. References Classification of diseases, WHO, http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/acessed 170103. Ndosi M, Bremander A, Hamnes B, et al. Validation of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool as a Generic Instrument for Rheumatic Diseases in 7 European Countries. Ann Rheum Dis 2014;73:2122–2129. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Patient Education in Spondyloarthritis Should be Guiding, Reliable and Available and Presented in Varied Formats

Are Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Undifferentiated Spondylarthritis Associated with an Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease?For a searchable version of these abstracts, please visit www.acrabstracts.org. Please Note: It may take several minutes for this file to download.Background/Purpose: Person-centred care (PCC) is a holistic approach with respectful and individualized care allowing negotiation of care where persons with health problems are empowered to be involved in health decisions. Patients’ illness narratives constitute a starting point for building a collaboration with health care professionals and to empower them to play an active role in their health care. Little is known of the impact of PCC vs. regular care on patients’ skills as health care consumers. The aim was to study the impact on effective consumers’ skills over 6 and 12 months as measured by the Effective Consumer Scale (EC17) in patients undergoing biological therapy and randomly assigned to either a nurse-led rheumatology clinic (NLC) based on PCC or to a rheumatologist-led clinic (RLC) based on regular care.Methods: A 12 month RCT in 107 patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis1. Inclusion criteria were ongoing biological therapy and a DAS28 ≤3.2. All patients met a rheumatologist at inclusion and after 12 months, while the 6 month follow-up was randomized to either at an NLC (PCC) or at an RLC (regular care). Outcome measure was the EC17, developed and endorsed by the OMERACT, including five subscales; 1. Use of health information, 2. Clarifying personal priorities, 3. Communicating with others, 4. Negotiating roles and 5. Deciding and taking action. EC17 total score ranges from 0-100, worse to best. Differences between and within NLC and RLC were analyzed with Friedmans’ test or Mann Whitney U-test.Results: After 12 months 97 patients completed the RCT (NLC n=47, RLC n=50), mean (SD) age 55.4 (12.7) years, disease duration 16.7 (11.5) years, DAS28 2.1 (0.7), HAQ 0.54 (0.38), global health 20.4 (17.1), pain 21.1 (18.0) and 56% were women. There were no statistically significant differences within or between the two intervention groups at baseline nor in EC17 total score mean (SD) at baseline (NLC 83.5 (9.4) vs. RLC 83.2 (10.8), 6 months (NLC 85.4 (10.4) vs. RLC 82.9 (10.9) and 12 months (NLC 85.3 (11.1) vs. RLC 82.3 (10.9)). However, in NLC there was a statistically significant improvement in EC17 subscale “1. Use of health information” at both 6 and 12 months (p=0.041 and p=0.004 respectively).Conclusion: Replacing just one of three visits over 12 months to an NLC based on PCC instead of an RLC based on regular care resulted in more effective consumers concerning the use of health information. Larger studies over longer time frames focusing on PCC are needed to better understand its full impact on effective consumer skills measured by EC17.References:1. Larsson I, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a nurse-led rheumatology clinic for monitoring biological therapy. J Adv Nurs 2014;70:164-75.Background/Purpose: Chronic widespread pain (CWP), one of the hallmarks of fibromyalgia, is not uncommon in adolescents and it has previously been shown that adolescents with pain often become young adults with pain. CWP often co-varies with anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms in adults, but the knowledge regarding this is small in youth and young adults.The aim was to study the associations between CWP, anxiety, depression and stress in adolescents attending first year of high school.Methods: A computerized questionnaire to 296 adolescents attending Swedish high school, with validated questions regarding presence and distribution of pain (Epipain mannequin), stress symptoms (ELO question), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – HADS), and health related quality of life (HRQL as measured by EQ5D). Pain was considered chronic when persistent for more than three months, and the subgroup CWP was defined according to the 1990 ACR criteria for fibromyalgia. Statistical analyses in SPSS v21 with comparison of means by Student’s t-test and proportions by chi2-test or Fischer’s exact test.Results: 257 (87%) out of 296 eligible students, mean (SD) age 16.1 (0.7) and 65.8% girls, responded to the questionnaire. Prevalence of chronic pain was 20.8% and that of the subgroup CWP was 4.7%, without any gender differences (boys 18.2% vs girls 22.2%; p=0.224, and 3.4% vs 5.4%; p=0.692). High level (4 or 5 on a 5 point scale) of stress symptoms were less common in boys (16.0% vs 28.2%; p=0.015), as was possible or probable anxiety (17.1% vs 44.4%; p<0.001), but not depression (10.3% vs 12.5%; p=0.764). Students with high level of stress reported CWP five times more often than those with less stress (30.4% vs 5.8%; p=0.001). Students with probable anxiety reported CWP ten times more often than students with no anxiety (17.6% vs 1.8%; p=0.001), and CWP was also more common, but not statistically significant, in students with probable depression (20.0% vs 3.1%; p=0.163). Those reporting CWP had significantly lower HRQL (0.58 vs 0.87; p=0.038) than students with no chronic pain.Conclusion: The high prevalence of chronic pain and the strong associations between CWP and reports of stress and anxiety in adolescents highlights that a multifactorial background to chronic pain must be considered early in life. An apparent lower score in EQ5D also indicates that the presence of CWP has an marked impact on HRQL also in adolescents.Background/Purpose: The treatment target for axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is to maximize health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by controlling disease activity and improving functioning. The treatment cornerstones are a combination of patient education, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. Health professionals are familiar with providing patient education but the knowledge is scarce concerning how this education is experienced by the patients.The aim was to describe patients’ experiences of education in SpA management.Methods: The study had a descriptive design with a qualitative conventional content analysis approach performed in seven steps in accordance with Graneheim & Lundman (1). The analysis aimed to describe and preserve contextual meanings. After coding and subgrouping meaningful parts of the text were merged into categories. Eleven interviews were conducted between 2014-2015 in patients with SpA based on a strategic sampling in order to achieve variation with regard to sex (7 men, 4 women), age (38-66 years), subdiagnoses (5 patients with AS, 6 with USpA), quality of life (EQ5D 0.29-1.0), disease activity (BASDAI 1-6), physical function (BASFI 0-5), and global health (BASG 0-7) .Results: Three categories representing patients’ experiences of patient education in disease management emerged; guiding education, reliable education and available education. Guiding education comprised SpA management including disease knowledge such as symptoms, prognosis, treatment, self-management, climate impact, heredity, and assisting devices. Reliable education meant how and by whom the education was communicated and was considered reliable if it was based on science and communicated by specialists, for example by physician, nurse, PT, dietician and senior patients with experience of rheumatic diseases. The patients experienced difficulties in assessing the large flow of education coming from various sources. Individualized education also increased the reliability. Available education meant that the education can and should be presented in varied formats, and that the amount of information could be chosen. The education could be given orally (through meetings, videos, lectures), in writing (by pamphlets, e-mails, journals, webpages) or obtained through own personal experiences. There were requests to utilize newer media like skype, video and chat forums. Furthermore, individual contacts with healthcare professionals when needed were of importance.Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of obtaining a guiding, reliable and available patient education for management of SpA. Health care professionals need to consider the importance of presenting varied formats of education based on patients’ experiences and expectations.References:1.Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse education today 2004;24(2):105-12.PMN Reactivity Contribute to Acute Onset Joint Inflammation By Increasing CXCL8 Production in Joints of RA Patients with Anti-Collagen II AntibodiesBig Data International Primary Sjogren Syndrome Registry : Baseline Characterization and Diagnostic Approach in 6047 Patients Fulfilling the 2002 AE CriteriaThe Link Between DAS28 and the Short-Term Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome in RA, and Its Driving FactorsHypomethylation in Enhancer and Promoter Regions of Interferon Regulated Genes in Multiple Tissues Is Associated with Primary Sjogrens SyndromeReceptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Ligand (RANKL) and Sclerostin Are Related to Joint Destruction in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Unrelated to Polymorphisms of the Genes

OP0258-HPR Self-Reported Disease Characteristics do not Explain Why Younger Women with SPA Are Less Physically Active than Older Women with the Disease

Background Exercise is a commonly used treatment for patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) but younger women reach WHOs recommended level of physical activity (PA) to a less extent than peers in the general population (Haglund, 2012). Objectives To study if self-reported disease characteristics in patients with SpA can explain why younger women are less physically active than older women with the disease. Methods In a cross-sectional population based cohort study in southern Sweden, 1121 women (51.7% of the total SpAScania cohort) were identified by a health care register and responded to a questionnaire survey in 2009. The primary outcome was self-reported level of physical activity (PA) based on the WHOs recommendation. Self-reported pain (VAS), global health (VASglobal, BASG),health related quality of life (EQ-5D), disease activity (BASDAI), physical function (BASFI), self-efficacy pain and symptoms (ASES), anxiety (HADa), depression (HADd), education level, smoking habits and reported severity of the skin disease psoriasis (NRS) were reported. Younger (≤35 years of age, n=127) and older women (>35, n=994) and the disease subgroups AS/USpA (n=441) and PsA (n=680) were compared with regard to characteristic symptoms. T-test and chi-square test was used to analyze group differences, exact p-values are reported. Results Out of the 1121 women in the cohort, 1094 answered the questions concerning PA. There were no significant differences between younger/older women with AS/USpA reaching recommended level of PA (71% vs. 77%, p=0.23). In younger women with PsA there was a trend to not reaching the recommended level of PA to the same extent (58% vs. 70%, p=0.06). When comparing younger and older women concerning characteristic variables, there were significant worse self-reported VASglobal (3.9 vs. 4.5, p=0.004), BASDAI (4.2 vs 4.8, p=0.008), BASFI (2.4 vs. 3.8, p<0.001), BASG (3.6 vs. 4.4, p=0.001), ASES pain (53 vs. 49, p=0.02), ASES symptom (59 vs. 55, p=0.04) and HAD depression (3.7 vs. 4.6, p=0.04) in the older women. When stratified on the disease subgroups, VASglobal (3.8 vs. 4.3, p=0.05) and BASFI (2.6 vs. 3.6, p=0.002) were significantly worse for older women with AS/USpA (n=372) compared to the younger group (n=69). Older women with PsA (n=622) reported significantly worse VASpain (3.9 vs. 4.7, p=0.02), BASFI (2.2 vs. 3.9, p<0.001), BASG (3.5 vs. 4.5, p=0.004), ASES pain (54 vs. 57, p=0.01) and symptom (61 vs. 53, p=0.01), HAD depression (3.8 vs. 4.7, p=0.04) compared to the younger group (n=58). There was an inverse relationship regarding severity of psoriasis, were younger women with PsA have a tendency to report a more severe skin disease (3.9 vs. 3.2, p=0.09). When comparing characteristics for young women reaching or not reaching healthy PA, no differences were found. Conclusions Young women with SpA do not reach recommended level of PA in the same extend as in the population. There were no explanations found when comparing common self-reported variables in younger and older women with SpA in a defined cohort. The relationship needs to be studied further also from a qualitative aspect. References Haglund, E., S. Bergman, et al. (2012). Differences in physical activity patterns in patients with spondylarthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 64(12): 1886-1894. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.3088

FRI0463 Factors associated with anxiety and depression in spondyloarthritis patients: results from the swedish population based spa scania cohort

Background Anxiety and depression are more common among patients with rheumatic diseases and can influence treatment options and outcome. However insight in factors associated with anxiety and depression in patients with Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is scarce. Objectives To identify factors associated with self-reported anxiety and depression in a well-defined population based cohort of patients with SpA. Methods In 2009, 3711 adult SpA patients from the SpaScania cohort were identified and involved in a questionnaire survey including patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess quality of life, physical and mental functioning. To assess depression and anxiety the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A and HADS-D) was used. Each subscale ranges from 0-21; best to worst. HAD scores of ≥ 8 indicate probable cases of anxiety or depression. Differences in HADS subscale scores among the SpA subgroups were tested by using one-way ANOVA (p<.05). Associations between PROMs and the HADS subscales, were studied with linear regression analysis including each independent variable separately (adjusted for age, gender and disease duration) and presented as β-estimates (95%CI). Results In total 2851 patients (76%) responded to the study invitation, 684 (18%) declined participation and 2167 (58%) returned the questionnaire. Mean age 55.4 (SD 13.9) years, mean disease duration 14.4 (12.1) years and 52% female. SpA subgroups were: Ankylosing spondylitis 501 (23%), Psoriatic arthritis 1171 (54%), and undifferentiated SpA 495 (23%). Mean HADS-A was 5.9 (4.3) and mean HADS-D 4.4 (3.6) respectively for the whole SpA group. In total 683 (32%) cases were classified as probable anxiety cases and 305 (14%) as probable depression cases. No differences in HADS were found among the different SpA subgroups for anxiety or depression (p>0.6). Higher scoring on HADS-A and HADS-D was associated with (table): lower education, lower physical activity (HADS-D only), chronic pain problems, more fatigue, lower general health, lower HRQoL (EQ-5D), lower level of functioning (BASFI), higher disease activity (BASDAI), lower self-efficacy (ASES). Conclusions Patients with SpA do report problems with anxiety and/or depression and associations appear highly multifactorial with a profile of impaired health in general. Screening patients with SpA for anxiety and depression in the clinic is important but using a simple proxy is discouraged. Instead HADS or other comprehensive instruments to assess anxiety or depression should be considered. Disclosure of Interest None Declared