Scientists are urging quicker diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis to prevent long-term harm to patients.
Psoriatic arthritis, or PsA, is a common inflammatory condition that affects around 200,000 people in the U.K.
It causes joint pain, swelling, and fatigue, and if left untreated, can lead to permanent joint damage.
A new study from the University of Bath, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, shows that many patients experience symptoms for months or even years before getting the correct diagnosis.
By the time they begin treatment, some damage may already be done. The research team, led by Dr. William Tillett, says early detection and treatment are key to helping people stay mobile and live pain-free.
Dr. Tillett, a rheumatologist at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, explained that even a six-month delay in diagnosis can lead to worse physical function ten years later.
He added that the disease can make it hard for people to work or carry out daily tasks.
Psoriatic arthritis often starts with subtle signs such as joint stiffness, back pain, fatigue, nail changes, or the skin rash known as psoriasis.
These symptoms can be mistaken for other, less serious conditions, which often delays proper treatment. Because the inflammation can be hidden in joints like those in the spine, it may only be detected through scans like ultrasounds, which are not always done right away.
The study looked at patients diagnosed between May 2018 and October 2019 and found several causes of delay.
People were slow to visit their GP, and even after being referred to a specialist, there were often long waits for scans and tests. The researchers are now investigating why these delays happen and how to fix them.
Dr. Rachel Charlton, the study’s first author, said that more education for doctors and better access to scans could help. She emphasized that there is a “window of opportunity” early in the disease when treatment can be most effective, and right now, that window is often missed.
In another related study, researchers from Bath used data from GP records to try and predict who is at risk of developing PsA. PhD student Alex Rudge built a model that found patterns in symptoms and medication use that could help spot people at risk. In the future, a software tool could be used by GPs to flag these patients early, speeding up diagnosis and treatment.
Experts hope that targeted screening and quicker care will prevent serious damage and improve lives. Improving outcomes for people with inflammatory arthritis is a major goal of the NHS and the British Society for Rheumatology.
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