POS0243 WHAT DOES REMISSION IN AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS MEAN FOR CLINICIANS? AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF 200 FRENCH RHEUMATOLOGISTS BASED ON A VIGNETTE EXERCISE INCLUDING 36 CASES AND PRIORITY RATINGS

Background: Treat-to-target in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) aims to achieve and maintain clinical remission/inactive disease or alternatively, low disease activity [1]. However, there is no consensual definition of remission in axSpA: the T2T international task force has proposed Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) inactive disease, but this definition is not widely accepted [1, 2]. Objectives: To explore rheumatologists’ perception of remission in axSpA, using vignette cases and a priority exercise. Methods: A steering group of 7 rheumatologists designed a national cross-sectional survey during two face-to-face meetings in 2019-2020. The survey comprised 36 vignette cases: fixed elements included the clinical picture (34 year-old-male with confirmed axSpA, normal C-reactive protein (CRP), without synovitis, enthesitis, dactylitis or extra-articular manifestations) and there were 3 varying parameters (axial pain (0-10) [ranging 2 to 5], fatigue (0-10) [2 to 8], and morning stiffness [ Results: Overall, 200 French rheumatologists participated between June and September 2020. Out of 2,400 vignette evaluations (mean of 66 evaluations per vignette), 463 (19%) were classified as remission by rheumatologists. Six vignette cases constituted 56% of all remission cases (Figure 1): these comprised a short duration of morning stiffness ( In priority ratings, 4 items were selected as important by 68-75% of rheumatologists: morning stiffness and axial pain (both included in the vignettes), as well as extra-articular manifestations and NSAID use, whereas only 18% selected fatigue. BASDAI was cited as the 1st priority criteria by 24% of rheumatologists and ASDAS as the 2nd by 16% of rheumatologists. Conclusion: Morning stiffness, axial pain, NSAIDs use, and extra-articular manifestations seem to impact the physicians’ perception of remission in axSpA, whereas fatigue has less impact on remission for rheumatologists. Consensus is needed on remission in axSpA. References: [1Smolen JS et al. Treating axial spondyloarthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis, especially psoriatic arthritis, to target: 2017 update of recommendations by an international task force. Ann Rheum Dis 2018;77:3–17. [2]Wendling D et al. 2018 update of French Society for Rheumatology (SFR) recommendations about the everyday management of patients with spondyloarthritis. Joint Bone Spine 2018;85:275–84. Funding: This study was funded and organized by Novartis France Disclosure of Interests: Krystel Aouad: None declared, Daniel Wendling: None declared, Anne BAGLIN Employee of: Novartis, Maxime Breban: None declared, sabrina DADOUN: None declared, Christophe Hudry: None declared, Anna Molto: None declared, Edouard Pertuiset: None declared, Laure Gossec: None declared