International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS)
The International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS) is a research initiative that assesses the impact and burden of Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) from the patient’s perspective. The IMAS initiative brings together patients, patient organizations, clinicians and researchers from around the world to address the issues that matter most to patients with axSpA. IMAS currently spans 23 countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia and continues to expand, incorporating collaboration from new countries and more respondents from around the world.
Objective
By generating and disseminating scientific evidence on how people with axSpA experience their disease physically, psychologically and socially, IMAS aims to give a voice to the community of patients with AxSpA, to improve their quality of life and their unmet needs.
IMAS values
- Ensure that the quality of life and the needs of people living with axSpA are central to everything we do.
- Strive for a holistic understanding of the patients’ situation from multiple disciplines and with different stakeholders united by a common interest.
- Accept the importance of evidence-based information and the precepts of science in axSpA to guide any type of action.
- Expand the use of data to enable patient organizations to support people with axSpA.
Launch
The European data from the IMAS survey included 2,846 people diagnosed with axSpA from 13 countries and was launched in June 2019. The IMAS study is expanding and the next phase, later this year, will include results from other countries in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
Participants
Health & Territory Research Group (HTR) of the University of Seville, Axial Spondyloarthritis International Federation (ASIF) and Novartis.
