BASDAI

A tool for assessing disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis

The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) is a widely used tool for measuring the disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It is a self-administered questionnaire that helps in assessing the severity of symptoms and the effectiveness of treatments.

Development and Purpose

The BASDAI was developed by rheumatologists at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, United Kingdom. It was designed to provide a simple and effective way to measure disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and the sacroiliac joints.

Components of BASDAI

The BASDAI consists of six questions that evaluate the major symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis:

1. Fatigue
2. Spinal pain
3. Joint pain/swelling
4. Areas of localized tenderness (also known as enthesitis)
5. Morning stiffness duration
6. Morning stiffness severity

Each question is scored on a scale from 0 (no problem) to 10 (very severe problem). The scores from the six questions are averaged to give a final BASDAI score, which ranges from 0 to 10. A higher score indicates greater disease activity.

Interpretation of BASDAI Scores

The BASDAI score is used by healthcare providers to assess the current level of disease activity and to make decisions about treatment. A score of 4 or higher is generally considered indicative of active disease, which may warrant a change in treatment strategy.

Clinical Use

The BASDAI is used in both clinical practice and research settings. It helps in monitoring the progression of ankylosing spondylitis and evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), biologic agents, and physical therapy.

Advantages and Limitations

The BASDAI is valued for its simplicity and ease of use. It is a patient-reported outcome measure, which means it reflects the patient's perspective on their disease activity. However, it is subjective and may not capture all aspects of the disease, such as radiographic progression or extra-articular manifestations.

Related Pages

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Rheumatology
• Disease activity index
• Patient-reported outcome measure