Diagnostic delay in axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT: Identification of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) remains challenging, frequently resulting in a diagnostic delay for patients. Current benchmarks of delay are usually reported as mean data, which are typically skewed and therefore may be overestimating delay. Our aim was to determine the extent of median delay patients' experience in receiving a diagnosis of axSpA and examine whether specific factors are associated with the presence of such delay. We conducted a systematic review across five literature databases (from inception to November 2021), with studies reporting the average time period of diagnostic delay in patients with axSpA being included. Any additional information examining associations between specific factors and delay were also extracted. A narrative synthesis was used to

SUBMITTER: Hay CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9187558 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature