During the past decade, the well-known disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis has come to be considered as a subset of the broader entity referred as axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), which also includes non-radiographic axSpA. The need of this new classification was aimed to improve the sensitivity for an early diagnosis, to reduce diagnostic delay, and to allow an early treatment. Although there is improvement in the recognition, the management of patients, and the treatment strategies of axSpA, unmet needs persist , there is still a substantial gap of 5-8 years between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis of axSpA.

. This study is intended to enhance awareness and understanding of Axial Spondyloarthritis and to identify and discuss the current unmet needs in axSpA .

Multiple defects are still unfullfilled for axial SpA patients those defects include delayed diagnosis specially for female, failure to acheive treatment target, pain, impaired quality of life and associated comorbidities.

Up to the best of our knowledge this is the first study to highlight unmet needs for axial Spondyloarthritis patients in Egypt in general and in upper Egypt in particular .

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients fulfill the Assessment in Spondyloarthrits International Society (ASAS) classification criteria for Axial Spondyloarthritis .
• Age above 16 years old.
• Patient cooperative and can answer questions .

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other rheumatologic or collagen diseases .
• Age below 16 years and above 60 years.
• Uncooperative patients .

Patients fulfill the Assessment in Spondyloarthrits International Society (ASAS) classification criteria for Axial Spondyloarthritis With comorbidities as diabetes , hypertension , pregnancy , renal impairment or smoking