The PCP's Role in Spotting Axial Spondyloarthritis

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) is a chronic, inflammatory arthritis of the sacroiliac joints and spine.1 The disease may also present with peripheral arthritis and/or extra-articular manifestations.1 Progressive joint damage, ...

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) is a chronic, inflammatory arthritis of the sacroiliac joints and spine.1 The disease may also present with peripheral arthritis and/or extra-articular manifestations.1 Progressive joint damage, irreversible loss of spinal mobility, and impaired patient function are accompanied by significant psychosocial and quality-of-life burdens. All too often, the diagnosis of AxSpA is delayed—historically, by an average of 10–14 years from the time of symptom onset—profoundly exacerbating the disease sequelae.2,3 Given their frontline position in the assessment of back pain, primary care providers (PCPs) are essential to accelerating the identification of AxSpA. This multimedia eHealth SourceTM program has been designed to help PCPs efficiently screen patients with suspicious clinical presentations, correlate signs and symptoms with various AxSpA subtypes, and utilize available first-line diagnostic modalities. The overall goal is to expedite evidence-based management of AxSpA by enhancing disease awareness among PCPs, improving patient evaluations in primary care, and encouraging rheumatology referrals with an expectation of ongoing collaborative care.4,5References1. Sieper J, Poddubnyy D. Axial spondyloarthritis. Lancet. 2017;390(10089):73-84.2. Martindale J, Goodacre L. The journey to diagnosis in AS/axial SpA: the impact of delay. Musculoskeletal Care. 2014;12(4): 221-231.3. Ramonda R, Marchesoni A, Carletto A, et al. Patient-reported impact of spondyloarthritis on work disability and working life: the ATLANTIS survey. Arthritis Res Ther. 2016;18:78.4. Ward MM, Deodhar A, Akl EA, et al. American College of Rheumatology/Spondylitis Association of America/Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network 2015 recommendations for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016;68(2): 282-298.5. Rudwaleit M, Sieper J. Referral strategies for early diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2012;8(5):262-268.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:Identify patients with inflammatory back pain (IBP)and correlate clinical findings with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA)via historical features, manifestations, and comorbiditiesApply first-line diagnostic modalities for the provisional identification of AxSpARefer patients to rheumatologists for diagnostic confirmation and targeted treatment of AxSpA within a clinically advantageous timeframeProvide longitudinal support for patients with AxSpA

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