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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Spondyloarthritis is the name given to a family
3 of closely related, chronic rheumatic diseases that pose a
4 major health concern in the United States, impacting one in
5 100 Americans; and
6 WHEREAS, Spondyloarthritis affects 3.2 million adults in
7 the U.S., more than RA, ALS, and MS combined; it can occur
8 early in life and is a condition for which there is no known
9 cure; and
10 WHEREAS, Many women, especially Black women, impacted by
11 the disease remain undiagnosed due to inadequate awareness,
12 with the average diagnostic delay being seven to 10 years; and
13 WHEREAS, There are fewer than 400 pediatric
14 rheumatologists in the U.S., and approximately one-fourth of
15 the 300,000 children with arthritis must travel 80 or more
16 miles to see a rheumatologist; and
17 WHEREAS, Spondyloarthritis includes ankylosing
18 spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis,
19 enteropathic arthritis, juvenile spondyloarthritis,
20 undifferentiated spondyloarthritis, peripheral
21 spondyloarthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, and
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1 non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis; and
2 WHEREAS, Symptoms of spondyloarthritis typically begin
3 before the age of 45, with early signs including frequent pain
4 and stiffness in the lower back and buttocks and pain in a
5 peripheral joint, such as the hip, ankle, elbow, heel, or
6 shoulder; and
7 WHEREAS, A portion of people with spondyloarthritis will
8 progress to spinal fusion and will become prone to fractures,
9 thoracic kyphosis, or eroded peripheral joints, especially the
10 hips and shoulders; and
11 WHEREAS, Complications from spondyloarthritis may cause
12 serious inflammation in other organs, including the heart,
13 lungs, skin, gastrointestinal tract, nerves, and eyes; and
14 WHEREAS, Early diagnosis is critical in effectively
15 treating the disease, preventing certain complications,
16 reducing medical disability, and improving quality of life and
17 function for those impacted with spondyloarthritis; and
18 WHEREAS, An increase in awareness of spondyloarthritis and
19 its symptoms, with both medical professionals and the general
20 public, can increase the likelihood of earlier diagnosis with
21 all of its benefits to patients and society; and
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1 WHEREAS, People living with this potentially debilitating
2 disease should be provided with the resources, education, and
3 support needed for a timely diagnosis and improved treatment
4 outcomes so that they can live their lives to the fullest;
5 therefore, be it
6 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
7 HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8 we declare May 2025 as Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month in
9 the State of Illinois.
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