Axial Spondylarthritis: Diagnostic Delays and Prevalence in Uveitis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Diagnostic Delays in Axial Spondylarthritis and Its Prevalence Among Acute Anterior Uveitis Patients: A Retrospective Study
IRAS ID
353234
Contact name
Wiranthi Gunasekera
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NWA NHSFT
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 0 days
Research summary
Diagnostic Delays in Axial Spondylarthritis and Its Prevalence Among Acute Anterior Uveitis Patients (DDAxSPA-AAU) is a retrospective analysis aimed at understanding key aspects of Axial Spondylarthritis (AxSpA) and its relationship with Acute Anterior Uveitis (AAU) over a 10-year period. By examining past medical records, the study aims to identify important diagnostic and prevalence patterns that can inform future healthcare practices.
The main goals of this research are:
1. To determine the diagnostic delay in patients with AxSpA.
2. To assess the prevalence of AxSpA among patients with AAU.The study will include current and past patients who have been treated for these conditions. Using electronic medical records from the past 10 years, a thorough review of patient records will be conducted to achieve the study's objectives.
AAU is the most common extra-axial manifestation of AxSpA, with up to 40% of AAU patients also having AxSpA. This close relationship suggests that screening AAU patients for AxSpA could be a viable strategy for early diagnosis and treatment. The study aims to determine the prevalence of AxSpA in North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust's historical data. Previous studies have shown that the average diagnostic delay for AxSpA can be as long as 8.5 years in the UK. There is a need for updated and UK-specific data in the post-COVID-19 era, which this study aims to provide.
Understanding diagnostic delays and prevalence rates is crucial for improving early detection and treatment strategies for AxSpA. The findings from this study could lead to better healthcare policies and practices, ultimately benefiting patients and the healthcare system as a whole.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0069
Date of REC Opinion
5 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion