Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Sex differences in pain-related biopsychosocial assessments in patients with axial spondyloarthritis
Authors' conclusion
Our study suggests that men and women with axSpA show distinct patterns in pain-related biopsychosocial assessments.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) from the Groningen Leeuwarden axSpA (GLAS) cohort
- Participants
- 73 vs 128
- Exposure
- Women vs men with axSpA
- Womenn = 73
- Menn = 128reference
- Outcome
- Sex differences in pain-related biopsychosocial assessments (BASDAI pain questions 2-4, quantitative sensory testing, questionnaires on central sensitization, illness perception, coping, anxiety/depression, pain-related worrying)
Methodological detailsexplorative, cohort-based (GLAS cohort)
- Explorative
- Cohort-based (GLAS cohort)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Pain-related biopsychosocial assessments
- Women scored higher on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) questions and had lower PPTs than men
- Regression: factors associated with pain-related disease activity differ between sexes with varying R2
- Effect sizes: small (< 0.5), moderate (0.5-<0.8), large (≥ 0.8)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Women | Men | ES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central sensitization (CSI) | 41.5 ± 13.6 | 30.6 ± 13.8 | 0.79 |
| Coping: comforting cognitions | 29.9 ± 4.1 | 27.8 ± 4.9 | 0.51 |
| Coping: decreasing activity | 21.0 ± 4.3 | 18.8 ± 4.5 | 0.49 |
| Coping: diverting attention | 22.3 ± 3.9 | 20.1 ± 4.7 | 0.78 |
Original publication
Sex differences in pain-related biopsychosocial assessments in patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 9 January 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →