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What are the issues in axial Spa (AS)?
From the more visible physical changes to the less obvious invisible symptoms that many suffer, NASS is fighting on all fronts to try to raise awareness. There is currently no cure for axial SpA (AS).
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220k
Adults in the UK
1 in 200 of the adult population in the UK have axial SpA (AS). That's twice as many as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
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24
Average age
Axial SpA (AS) is a condition that affects young people. Symptoms start late teens to early twenties, with the average age of onset being 24.
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8.5
Years to diagnosis
The current average delay to diagnosis from when symptoms start is 8.5 years, by which irreversible damage to the spine may have occurred.
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59%
Mental health
59% of people with axial SpA report suffering mental health problems compared to 25% of those with musculoskeletal conditions overall.