AS resources
Verified links to patient organisations, clinical guidelines, and online communities. These are the places I would point a friend who had just been diagnosed.
Patient organisations by country
United States
- Spondylitis Association of America
The leading AS patient organisation in the US — advocacy, education, research funding.
- Arthritis Foundation
AS section with treatment overviews and patient resources.
United Kingdom
- National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS)
The UK's leading charity for axial spondyloarthritis — includes AS and nr-axSpA.
- Versus Arthritis
UK charity with practical AS guides and a helpline.
Australia
- Arthritis Australia
National patient advocacy and education organisation.
- CreakyJoints Australia
Patient education and advocacy for Australians living with arthritis.
New Zealand
- Arthritis New Zealand
Supports people living with arthritis in NZ — AS included.
- Pharmac
NZ government agency that funds medications — check biologic access criteria here.
Canada
- Canadian Spondylitis Association
Patient organisation for Canadians with AS and related conditions.
- The Arthritis Society Canada
National charity for arthritis awareness and support.
Clinical guidelines
- ASAS Classification Criteria
Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society — sets the diagnostic and classification criteria.
- ACR/SPARTAN Treatment Guidelines
2019 US treatment guidelines for axial spondyloarthritis.
Online communities
- r/ankylosingspondylitis
Active Reddit community — lived experience, questions, support. Over 40,000 members.
- r/SpAcommunity
Broader spondyloarthritis community including PsA, nr-axSpA, and AS.
Links are reviewed periodically. If you find a broken link or want to suggest an organisation, let me know.