Ankylosing Spondylitis, is an autoimmune disease that attacks the spine, and potentially other joints and organs like the knees, hips, ankles, intestines, skin and eyes. The delay in diagnosis, on average in the United States is about 10 years. Delay in diagnosis means more irreversible joint damage, loss of function, systemic complications and less response to treatment.
The most common initial symptom of the disease is back pain.
Please see the article below from the American College of Physicians describing the condition in more details:
https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Spondyloarthritis
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