In June, in collaboration with Crohn’s & Colitis UK, and with support from the British Society for Gastroenterology (BSG), NASS launched the findings from their landscape review into diagnosing axial SpA in people living with inflammatory bowel disease.
As part of the NASS Act on axial SpA campaign, lunched in June 2021, we developed a 22-question survey in conjunction with key clinical advisors, Crohn’s & Colitis UK and BSG. There are two major themes emerging from this analysis to help ensure swift recognition, identification, and referral of suspected axial SpA: education and joint working with rheumatology.
Despite there being positive detection of inflammatory symptoms and high confidence to refer, the survey highlights the need for regular educational sessions and resources on axial SpA that are accessible to all clinicians. Also, within secondary care, standardised screening tools and formal referral pathways could support clinicians.in identification and onward referral.
Dr Christian Selinger, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and the BSG IBD committee chair remarked:
“Patients living with IBD often have associated conditions outside the bowel, inflammatory back pain (IBP), including axial SpA, is amongst the most common and serious extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) of IBD. Currently, it takes too long to correctly diagnose axial SpA and provide specialist treatment and support. This report has identified the key areas for improvement. We make recommendations for faster diagnosis and treatment to improve the quality of life of our patients.”
Click here to read the full report.
The landscape review and report are part of the Act on Axial SpA campaign, which aims to reduce diagnosis times of axial SpA from the current average of 8.5 years, to just one. The Act on Axial SpA campaign is fully funded by UCB.