Efficacy of intravenous infliximab in axial spondyloarthritis: impact on disease activity, quality of life, and productivity in subgroups with psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) leads to significant impairments in quality of life (QoL) and work productivity. While infliximab is effective in treating axSpA, its impact in patients with concomitant extra-skeletal manifestations is limited, particularly in the Greek population. To evaluate intravenous infliximab’s impact on disease activity, QoL, and work productivity in Greek patients with axSpA, and to compare treatment effects in subgroups with and without concomitant psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. Thirty-nine patients with axSpA participated in a prospective, observational study and assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Disease activity was measured using ASDAS and BASDAI, QoL was assessed via EQ VAS and HAQ, and work productivity was evaluated with WPAI. Infliximab resulted in significant reductions in ASDAS and BASDAI. QoL improved (HAQ decreased and EQ VAS increased). Work productivity also significantly improved, with decreases in absenteeism, presenteeism, activity impairment, and work productivity loss. Importantly, no significant differences were observed between subgroups. This study provides real-world evidence that infliximab improved disease activity, quality of life, and work productivity in all patient groups. Although subgroup differences were not statistically significant, these findings suggest consistent therapeutic benefits across diverse clinical presentations of axSpA.