Patient Burden of Axial Spondyloarthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) is an inflammatory spondyloarthritis (SpA) that has significant impact on a patient's life. Symptoms, including fatigue, sleep problems, depression, and sexual dysfunction, can profoundly impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and limit work, leisure, and daily activities. Available therapies effectively manage pain and inflammation in early-stage disease, but patients often continue to experience impaired HRQoL. Thus, there remains a need for new therapies with novel mechanisms that can stop disease progression, potentially reverse damage caused by AxSpA and improve HRQoL in patients with AxSpA. Newer biologic agents, such as those targeting the interleukin 17–interleukin 23 axis, have promising efficacy and may improve HRQoL for patients with AxSpA. The AxSpA has many negative effects on HRQoL. By targeting disease pathways responsible for the development of AxSpA, approved and emerging therapies potentially reduce disease activity and improve the functional status of patients with AxSpA. This narrative review reflects on the findings of studies evaluating HRQoL of individuals with AxSpA and the role of newer therapies.