Why have many people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) experienced trauma during the diagnosis process?

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints. Many patients have experienced trauma during the diagnosis process mainly due to delayed diagnosis. Early symptoms of AS usually include back pain, but because this pain is common, many doctors fail to refer patients to rheumatologists in a timely manner. In addition to back pain, AS may also be associated with uveitis, osteoporosis, and other symptoms, but these are often overlooked. Traditional diagnostic methods rely on structural changes visible on radiographs, which can take years to appear, further delaying diagnosis. Recently, diagnostic criteria have been updated to include symptoms without radiographic changes, but many doctors are not fully aware of these new criteria. To reduce diagnostic delays, doctors need to improve their awareness of AS-related symptoms and promptly adopt new diagnostic standards. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce patient suffering and long-term damage.