Axial Spondyloarthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that primarily affects the spine. It commonly presents as chronic low back pain and stiffness and typically begins in young adulthood. Once established, the disease persists throughout life and often requires long-term medical management. Axial spondyloarthritis affects approximately 0.1% of the adult population (about 1 in 1,000 individuals).

Chronic low back pain is defined as low back pain lasting longer than three months and is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide. It affects up to 10% of the adult population at some point in life. The condition is termed “non-specific” because it is thought to arise from diverse underlying causes. Approximately 85–90% of cases are believed to have a mechanical basis, while about 10–15% are driven by inflammation. Distinguishing inflammatory from mechanical low back pain remains a major clinical challenge and highlights the need for better biomarkers to support accurate diagnosis and management.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises two main conditions: ulcerative colitis, which affects the colon, and Crohn’s disease, which primarily involves the small bowel. Both conditions are chronic inflammatory diseases of unknown cause. IBD often begins in young adulthood and commonly presents with chronic diarrhea and/or chronic abdominal pain. The estimated prevalence is approximately 0.1–0.2% of the adult population.