Description of ASAS Health Index

The ASAS Health Index has been developed under the auspices of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) to assess health in patients with all forms of spondyloarthritis (SpA) (specifically radiographic and non-radiographic axial SpA as well as peripheral SpA). The self-report questionnaire measures functioning and health across 17 aspects of health and 9 environmental factors (EF) in patients with SpA [1]. The items measure the concept of ‘functioning, disability and health’ – a concept which is conceptualized in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The ICF, a model to systematically classify and describe functioning, disability and health in human beings, has been used by ASAS as a basis to define a core set of items that are typical and relevant for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) [2]. Based on this ICF core set for AS an item pool has been developed containing various items which are linked to specific ICF categories. The performance of the item pool has been tested and analyzed with Rasch Analysis. The best performing items have been included in the final measure. The ASAS HI contains items addressing categories of pain, emotional functions, sleep, sexual function, mobility, self care, and community life. The EF Item Set contains items addressing categories of support/relationships, attitudes and health services. Validation was done in patients with radiographic and non-radiographic axial SpA as well as peripheral SpA.

ASAS Health Index - References

  1. Kiltz U, van der Heijde D, Boonen A, Akkoc N, Bautista-Molano W, Burgos-Vargas R, Wei JC, Chiowchanwisawakit P, Dougados M, Duruoz MT, Elzorkany BK, Gaydukova I, Gensler LS, Gilio M, Grazio S, Gu J, Inman RD, Kim TJ, Navarro-Compan V, Marzo-Ortega H, Ozgocmen S, Pimentel Dos Santos F, Schirmer M, Stebbings S, Van den Bosch FE, van Tubergen A, Braun J. Measurement properties of the ASAS Health Index: results of a global study in patients with axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2018; 77:1311-1317.
  2. Kiltz U, van der Heijde D, Boonen A, Bautista-Molano W, Burgos-Vargas R, Chiowchanwisawakit P, Duruoz T, El-Zorkany B, Essers I, Gaydukova I, Géher P, Gossec L, Grazio S, Gu J, Khan MA, Kim TJ, Maksymowych WP, Marzo-Ortega H, Navarro-Compán V, Olivieri I, Patrikos D, Pimentel-Santos FM, Schirmer M, van den Bosch F, Weber U, Zochling J, Braun J. Measuring impairments of functioning and health in patients with axial spondyloarthritis by using the ASAS Health Index and the Environmental Item Set: translation and cross-cultural adaptation into 15 languages. RMD Open. 2016 Oct 4;2(2):e000311. (Open Access)
  3. Kiltz U, van der Heijde D, Boonen A, Cieza A, Stucki G, Khan MA, Maksymowych W, Marzo-Ortega H, Reveille J, Stebbings S, Bostan C, Braun J. Development of a health index in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (ASAS HI): final result of a global initiative based on the ICF guided by ASAS. Ann Rheum Dis, 2015;74:830-5. (Toll-Free Link)
  4. Boonen A, Braun J, van der Horst Bruinsma IE, Huang F, Maksymowych W, Kostanjsek N, Cieza A, Stucki G, van der Heijde D. ASAS/WHO ICF Core Sets for ankylosing spondylitis (AS): how to classify the impact of AS on functioning and health. Ann Rheum Dis, 2010;69:102-7.

ASAS Health Index User Manual

ASAS Health Index - References

Environmental factors related to ASAS Health Index

ASAS Health Index Translation Certificate