Three quarters of people living with axial spondyloarthritis struggle to find a job, IMAS survey shows
New European data from IMAS survey show that people living with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) suffer a delay in diagnosis of over 7 years, potentially leading to an increase in work-related issues due to worsening disease burden. The experience of people living with axSpA, a long-term inflammatory spine condition as prevalent as rheumatoid arthritis , , needs to be better understood to help patients manage their disease - The Ankylosing Spondylitis International Federation urges people living with axSpA to speak out to get the support they need Basel, June 13, 2019 - The European results of the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS) reveal that people living with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) - a long-term inflammatory spine condition which is as prevalent as rheumatoid arthritis face uncertainty and worry for their future, with 74% reporting difficulties finding a job due to the condition. These findings, presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) in Madrid, further highlight that the axSpA patient experience is poorly understood - an unmet need which international patient organization, Ankylosing Spondylitis International Federation (ASIF), is urging to be addressed. "AxSpA places a huge physical impact and psychological stress on those living with the condition, disrupting every aspect of their life and its quality, including mobility, sleep, work, and relationships," said Raj Mahapatra, ASIF trustee.
