There is an unacceptable delay to diagnosis in axial spondyloarthritis

(European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology) Developing a call to action for a global healthcare challenge -- The current delay to diagnosis from symptom onset represents one of the greatest challenges in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) - a type of inflammatory arthritis affecting the back. Research shows an average delay of almost 7 years - and up to 15 years in some cases - during which time the condition can progress and lead to irreversible damage. Data indicates that women wait longer than men for a diagnosis, and there has been very limited progress in reducing the time to diagnosis. This delay has a hugely detrimental impact on a person's quality of life. Because the disease frequently has early onset, individuals are left untreated - or with incorrectly treated symptoms - at a formative period in their life course.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news