Understanding Barriers in the Pathway to Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results From a US Survey of 1690 Physicians From 10 Specialties

摘要

Early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains challenging because of the high prevalence of chronic back pain in patients initially treated by nonrheumatology health care providers (HCPs). We assessed the patient pathway to rheumatology referral, including HCP recognition of inflammatory back pain (IBP) and other features suggestive of AS, diagnostic workup, treatment, and referral to a specialist with the goal of identifying barriers to patient referral to a rheumatologist.