Objectives To assess disease-related knowledge of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients Patients and methods Consecutive RA patients were invited from the rheumatology departments of BSMM University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Bangla version of the Patient Knowledge Questionnaire (B-PKQ) was used. Correlations between the B-PKQ scores and clinical-demographic data were measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Impact of independent variables on the level of knowledge about RA was analyzed through multiple regression analysis. Possible explanatory variables included the following: age, disease duration, formal education level, and Bangla Health Assessment Questionnaire (B-HAQ) score. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the difference between demographical, clinical, and socioeconomic variables. For statistical analysis, SPSS statistics version 20 was used. Results A total of 168 RA patients could be included. The mean B-PKQ score was 9.84 (range 1-20) from a possible maximum of 30. The mean time for answering the questionnaire was 24.3 min (range 15-34). Low scores were observed in all domains but the lowest were in medications and joint protection/energy conservation. Knowledge level was higher (15.5) in 6 patients who had RA education before enrollment. B-PKQ showed positive correlation with education level (r = 0.338) and negative correlation with HAQ (r = −0.169). The B-PKQ showed no correlation with age, disease duration, having first degree family member with RA, education from other sources (neighbor, RA patient, nurses), or information from mass media. Conclusions Disease-related knowledge of Bangladeshi RA patients was poor in all domains. Using these findings, improved education and knowledge will result in better disease control. Key Points • Little is known about the knowledge of RA patients regarding their disease and its treatment in Bangladesh and in developing countries in general. • We found that the knowledge of Bangladeshi RA patients regarding their disease was poor in all domains; it correlated positive with education level and negative with function (HAQ), but showed no correlation with age or disease duration. • The findings of this study can be used for improving current patient education programs by health professionals and through mass media. • Better disease control of RA may be achieved by improving patient knowledge in a developing country like Bangladesh, but also in other parts of the world.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease principally affecting the axial skeleton. The disease can have a profound impact on life quality in terms of physical, social and psychological well-being. It has a great detrimental effect on our social and economic stability as the disease is more severe in men than in women. Work disability in AS patients is higher than expected in the general population for both male and female. Patients with AS may incur significant medical costs which accelerate steeply with increasing loss of function (BASFI) and disease activity (BASDAI). Patients with more severe disease activity are at greater risk for developing functional disability. AS influences the subjective health of the affected person, especially the physical health related QoL. BASFI, BASDAI, BASG and pain are significantly associated with SF-36 physical and mental domains in patients with AS. Pain, fatigue and stiffness are the most commonly reported symptoms of these patients. Sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction are other factors that significantly affect patients’ quality of life.Birdem Med J 2014; 4(2): 88-93

Inflammatory back pain is common among patients presenting with CLBP. The commonest cause of IBP is AS, followed by PsA and nr-axSpA.