Alessia D’Anna, Assistant Editor
In an effort to raise awareness of psoriatic arthritis and the quality of life issues associated with the condition, the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA), have released an issue brief calling for community to action. The statement was issued in conjunction with the opening of the 68th World Health Assembly.
“The 67th World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on psoriasis, in which it was recognized that a large portion of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which can lead to permanent disfigurement and disability. For the global psoriasis community it is important to raise awareness of the added burden of psoriatic arthritis, that so many of us struggle with,” says Lars Ettarp, president of IFPA.
The goals for the issue brief entitled, “A need for global awareness to lift the burden of psoriatic arthritis on the individual and society,” is available at the IFPA's website. Calls for action in the issue brief include:
- Recognize that psoriatic arthritis is a serious disabling disease with a major impact on the individual as well as on society
- Include psoriatic arthritis in health policies and disability forums
Support awareness campaigns to educate patients and healthcare
According to IFPA, policy makers, healthcare professionals and the public needs to understand and recognize that the long-term outcomes of the disease can be severe, marked by disease progression, increasing disability, comorbidities, poor quality of life, inability to work and increased treatment costs. The brief is meant to aid patient organizations all over the world in their advocacy and awareness efforts to improve the situation for people with psoriatic arthritis.
“Almost a third of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis yet half of these people will have a considerable delay in diagnosis and treatment. This will lead to irreversible joint damage. Because effective treatments are available it is imperative that people with psoriatic arthritis are identified and referred as soon as possible. In order for this to happen we need wider education of both people with psoriasis, and health professionals who are consulted,” says Dr. Philip Helliwell, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds.
