Table 2 Characteristics of axSpA patients by depressive symptoms

Age, years, mean (SD)

44.5 ± 13.2

43.9 ± 12.7

45.7 ± 11.8

44.5 ± 13

Sex, female, n (%)

384 (44)

128 (48)

49 (48)

561 (45)

Disease duration, years, mean (SD)

7.1 ± 9.3

6.5 ± 8.7

6.4 ± 8.1

6.9 ± 9.1

School, ≥ 10 years, n (%)

723 (84)

203 (78)

71 (70)

997 (81)

Currently employed, n (%)

688 (82)

184 (75)

71 (76)

943 (80)

Current smoking, n (%)

318 (37)

116 (44)

47 (48)

481 (40)

Engaging in sports, ≥ 1 h/week, n (%)

500 (57)

122 (46)

30 (29)

652 (53)

Obesity (BMI ≥ 30), n (%)

207 (24)

80 (30)

29 (28)

316 (26)

Comorbidities, 3 or more, n (%)

151 (17)

59 (22)

31 (30)

241 (19)

Depression as known comorbidity, n (%)

42 (5)

27 (10)

18 (18)

87 (7)

Of those, depression treated, n (%)

23 (55)

17 (63)

13 (72)

53 (61)

Fibromyalgia as comorbidity, n (%)

17 (2)

7 (3)

6 (6)

30 (2)

Naive to biologic therapy, n (%)

462 (63)

128 (56)

46 (49)

636 (61)

Systemic glucocorticoids, n (%)

142 (16)

57 (22)

21 (21)

220 (18)

Non-opioid analgesics, n (%)

84 (10)

39 (15)

18 (19)

141 (12)

Opioids, n (%)

39 (5)

21 (8)

11 (11)

71 (6)

HLA-B27 positive, n (%)

626 (76)

186 (74)

67 (68)

879 (75)

ASAS criteria fulfilled, n (%)

685 (78)

214 (80)

78 (76)

977 (78)

CRP ≥ 5 mg/l, n (%)

387 (52)

125 (55)

57 (63)

569 (54)

Arthritis, joint count (0–44), mean (SD)

0.9 ± 2.4

1.7 ± 4.1

0.6 ± 1.7

1.1 ± 2.8

Enthesitis, number of sites (0–16), mean (SD)

0.4 ± 1.3

0.6 ± 1.6

0.5 ± 1.4

0.5 ± 1.4

ASDAS (CRP), mean (SD)

2.6 ± 1

3.3 ± 0.9

3.7 ± 0.9

2.9 ± 1

Physician global disease activity, NRS 0–10, mean (SD)

5.2 ± 2

5.9 ± 1.6

6.2 ± 1.7

5.4 ± 1.9

BASDAI, mean (SD)

4.1 ± 1.8

5.8 ± 1.6

6.7 ± 1.5

4.7 ± 2

BASFI, mean (SD)

3.2 ± 2.2

5 ± 2.2

6.2 ± 2.1

3.8 ± 2.4

ASAS-HI Score (0–17), mean (SD)

5.7 ± 3.2

9.2 ± 3.1

11.2 ± 2.9

6.9 ± 3.7

ASAS-HI: good/very good (0–5), n (%)

404 (47)

29 (11)

3 (3)

436 (36)

ASAS-HI: moderate (6–12), n (%)

438 (51)

167 (65)

57 (57)

662 (54)

ASAS-HI: poor/very poor (> = 12), n (%)

22 (3)

61 (24)

40 (40)

123 (10)

Patient global disease activity, NRS 0–10, mean (SD)

5.2 ± 2.3

7 ± 1.8

7.6 ± 2

5.8 ± 2.4

Patient: Pain, NRS 0–10, mean (SD)

5.1 ± 2.3

6.8 ± 1.9

7.5 ± 1.8

5.6 ± 2.3

Patient: fatigue, NRS 0–10 mean (SD)

4.8 ± 2.3

6.9 ± 1.8

7.5 ± 1.8

5.5 ± 2

Patient: Sleep disturbance, NRS 0–10, mean (SD)

4.7 ± 2.9

6.9 ± 2.4

7.7 ± 2.4

5.4 ± 3

Patient: Current work ability, NRS 0–10 (higher is better), mean (SD)

5.6 ± 2.3

3.8 ± 2.5

3.1 ± 2.6

5.1 ± 2.6