Sex differences in pain-related biopsychosocial assessments in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

Arthritis Research & Therapy 2026 Open access

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Authors: Yvonne Maria van der Kraan, Davy Paap, Hans Timmerman, Freke Wink, Suzanne Arends, Michiel Reneman, Anneke Spoorenberg
DOI: 10.1186/s13075-025-03725-2
Cited by: 1
References: 45

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), (back)pain is the key symptom and often linked to inflammation. However, knowledge on sex-related differences in pain is limited. Therefore, our study aim was to explore sex differences in a broad spectrum of pain-related biopsychosocial assessments in patients with axSpA. METHODS: Explorative cross-sectional study from Groningen Leeuwarden axSpA (GLAS) cohort. Following assessments were performed: pain-related questions 2–4 of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), quantitative sensory testing, including pain pressure threshold (PTT), temporal summation and conditioned pain modulation, and questionnaires assessing central sensitization, illness perception, coping strategies, anxiety/depression, and pain-related worrying. Effect sizes (ES) were interpreted as small (< 0.5), moderate (0.5–

Fields of Study & Subjects

Spondyloarthritis Studies and Treatments Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies

Publication details

Journal / source
Arthritis Research & Therapy
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
28
Issue
1
Pages
27–27
Publication date
9 January 2026
Language
EN