Racial Differences in Clinical Features and Comorbidities in Ankylosing Spondylitis in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine racial differences of clinical features, medication usage, and comorbidities of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the United States.

METHODS: In the Explorys database, 28,520 patients with AS were identified. Data were stratified by 2 rheumatology visits, race, sex, clinical characteristics, medication use, and comorbidities. Datasets were recorded as proportions, which were compared using chi-square test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: Of the 10,990 patients with AS, 8% were African Americans and had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, and high frequency of anterior uveitis, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and heart disease.

CONCLUSION: African Americans with AS in the United States have high disease activity and comorbidities compared to whites.