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UK's Hidden Health Crisis: Axial SpA Diagnosis Delays Cost Billions
1 May
Summary
- Delayed axial SpA diagnoses cost the UK economy £3.1bn annually.
- Nearly a third of UK patients see a GP over five times before referral.
- Over 200,000 people in the UK have the silent condition, axial SpA.
An estimated 200,000 individuals in the UK are living with axial SpA, a condition often hidden in plain sight. Many affected are forced to reduce their working hours, take sick leave, or cease working entirely due to diagnostic delays. This ongoing situation results in decreased earnings and diminished ability to perform optimally.
Compared to other European nations, the UK lags significantly in diagnosing axial SpA. While diagnoses in France and Italy take approximately five years, and just over six years in Germany, UK patients often face prolonged waits. Alarmingly, almost one-third of patients consult their GP more than five times before receiving a referral to a rheumatologist.
The economic repercussions of these diagnostic delays are profound. Research indicates that the delayed diagnosis of axial SpA imposes an annual cost of £3.1bn on the UK economy. It is estimated that a considerable number of the one million individuals who are signed off work for 'back pain' may actually have undiagnosed inflammatory arthritis.
Prioritizing earlier diagnosis of axial SpA offers a vital pathway to keeping people employed and preventing a treatable illness from escalating into a long-term disability. This proactive approach would not only restore lives for thousands but also contribute to getting Britain back to work.
