The ASAS Health Index: A New Era for Health Impact Assessment in Spondyloarthritis

Abstract

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) encompasses a group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases that share clinical and imaging characteristics as well as a common genetic basis. These diseases can affect 0.20–1.6% of the general population, limiting functioning and affecting the quality of life of patients. Considering the patient perspective in the management of the disease and ensuring patients are sufficiently prepared to participate in decision making is critical to treatment success, as well as for optimal health outcomes. The overall picture of impairments, limitations, and restrictions in activities or social participation for patients with SpA is not adequately assessed in SpA-specific instruments. Therefore, it is important to measure the broader range of impairments that can affect patients with SpA and integrate these into a single measure of overall functioning in daily life. The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society Health Index (ASAS HI) is a recently introduced health instrument for evaluating SpA based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) that could cover a good part of the health metric needs in SpA. This review addresses its origins, measurement properties, and use in routine clinical practice, as well as its prospects for future use.