THU0410 The Association between Disease Activity and Iillness Perceptions in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients in The Spondyloarthritis Caught Early (Space)-Cohort

Background Studies in patients with rheumatic diseases report that negative views of illness are associated with poorer disease outcomes, such as more disability and pain. Little is known about illness perceptions in patients with early axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Objectives To describe illness perceptions and to explore the association between illness perceptions and disease activity in patients with early axSpA at baseline. Methods The Spondyloarthritis Caught Early (SPACE) cohort includes patients (chronic back pain ≥3 months, ≤2 years, onset Results Only patients fulfilling the ASAS classification for axSpA (n=119) were included. These patients had a mean age of 29.7 (SD 7.9) years and 50.4% was male. The mean disease duration was 13.0 (SD 7.3) months and the mean ASDAS 2.4 (SD 1.0). Patients reported 4.2 (SD 2.3) symptoms to be associated with axSpA on average, see Figure 1. Pain, joint stiffness, fatigue, and sleeping problems were the most reported symptoms according to patients in the illness identity dimension. All other dimensions showed a mean of approximately 3, except psychological attributions, risk factors, immunity and accident of the causal section, which had a mean of approximately 2. Patients with axSpA attributed their complaints mostly to heredity, chance or bad luck, or stress and worries. Six dimensions of the IPQ-R were associated with ASDAS. A stronger illness identity (β=0.63, p=0.003), stronger beliefs in severe consequences (β=0.32, p Conclusions Negative illness perceptions, such as experiencing more symptoms, believing in severe consequences, less illness coherence, and negative emotions towards axSpA, are associated with disease activity in patients with early axSpA. Disclosure of Interest None declared