New Delhi: More young men are falling prey to a disease called "Ankylosing Spondylitis" or AS also known as inflammatory arthritis. It is a kind of arthritis that results in back pain, which, if left untreated, could lead to fusion of the spine resulting in a crooked posture. The condition is not easily diagnosed, but if diagnosed in time, it is treatable, though the treatment is expensive.
"If you wake up with a stiff back, which releases soon as you get on to your routine activities, it is a typical sign of the different kind of arthritis called AS. If detected early, it is treatable with even anti-inflammatory drugs. But if a patient comes very late, it requires treatment with special drugs which are expensive. The injections, called 'biologics', can cost the patient from Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh annually," said an expert, who specialises in arthritis.
The disease is more common in men than women. This is more due to men's predisposition to the disease. They have a gene called HLP B-27, expert added. The vertebrae fuse, causing hunch and distorted posture, sometimes even lead to disability. The inflammation in spine could also be accompanied with inflammation in the eyes. Those with recurrent urinary tract infections, psoriasis, and bowel disturbances are also at high risk of AS. "In the past, all cases of back pain were labelled as collapsed disc or mechanical back problem. But with better awareness about AS now in doctors, it is getting diagnosed more easily. It should, however, be completely differentiated from rheumatic arthritis," she said.
Dr Lalit Maini, Professor, Lok Nayak Hospital said that one should approach a doctor if the low back pain or buttock pain that comes slowly is worse in the morning. Sometimes patient wakes up with pain in the second half of the night. This pain decreases with exercise. "In mild disease, we use disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. But later the treatment is more vigorous and requires specific drugs," he said.
Maini also added that it classically raises stiffness and loss of movements of spine and hip if the disease worsens, moreover, it occurs due to genetic predisposition, with no environment or infective cause. Shockingly, while getting distress from the Delhi government hospitals, patients of the Ankylosing Spondylitis started campaigning against the disorder, said Chatrapati Ankur Shukla of 'Campaign against the Ankylosing spondylitis' (CASS). He also added that apart from the awareness the platform will also guide the new patients about the consequences while inculcating more members into the awareness group.
"Inflammatory arthritis conditions are in the deletion list of insurance companies, and hence these patients are completely denied health insurance, and hence also denied the Right to Access to Healthcare, said Shukla. He further added while quoting WHO data that around 25k patients are suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis every year, moreover, most of the doctors are not aware about this diseases, till the moment this disease gets diagnosed, it's too late.
In a letter to Union Health Minister, CASS wrote that in India, only 10 percent of the total population is covered under healthcare schemes. Furthermore, the diseases like inflammatory arthritis is not considered as "critical illness", unlike multiple sclerosis, paralysis and cardiac illness. Even well-insured arthritis patients, receiving care from rheumatologists, experience limitations as these diseases are currently classified as pre-existing conditions and result in considerable financial impact.
Considering the rapidly evolving treatment strategies for inflammatory arthritis, the disease once to be called as chronic disease has moved on to a disease where remission or total control of the disease is possible. To obtain these benefits, there is a need for a change in policy and the need of the hour is to consider the disease as a critical illness.