OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with high levels of fear related to rheumatic disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). METHODS: Cross-sectional assessment of unselected patients with RA (ACR/EULAR criteria) or axSpA (ASAS criteria) attending routine appointments in France during 2014–2015. Patients completed the self-reported “Opinions and fears of patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatism” (QOC-RIC) questionnaire,including 18 fear items related to progression/consequences of the disease and 5 related to treatment; each scored 0–10 (10 indicating “totally agree”). Descriptive analysis reported the percentage of patients with scores ≥7/10. Hierarchical descending cluster analysis identified homogeneous pt groups (clusters) according to their fears. Backward stepwise multiple linear regression (multiple imputation for missing data) explored association between fear scores and a range of patient characteristics. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: The most fearful patients were more likely to be women with higher helplessness and anxiety/depression scores. Fearfulness may reflect overall psychological distress in this patient population and interventions to decrease these fears should be assessed. REFERENCES: