Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Navigating the Roadblocks: National Patient and Provider Survey on Barriers to Healthcare and Medication Access for Patients With Vasculitis
Authors' conclusion
This study identified substantial barriers to vasculitis care, including diagnostic delays and limited access to medications.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with vasculitis and healthcare providers (HCPs) in Canada, surveyed through the Vasculitis Foundation Canada and the Canadian Rheumatology Association, September 2022 to June 2023
- Participants
- 100 vs 31
- Exposure
- Patients vs HCPs
- Patientsn = 100
- HCPsn = 31
- Outcome
- Barriers to care reported by patients and HCPs: diagnostic delays, appointment access and medication challenges
Methodological detailssecondary descriptive analysis, national surveys of patients and HCPs
- Secondary descriptive analysis
- National surveys of patients and HCPs
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Barriers to care
- Patients reporting initial misdiagnoses
- 66%
- Patients consulting ≥ 5 doctors before diagnosis of vasculitis
- 35%
- Patients referred to rheumatology waiting > 1 month for an appointment
- 57%
- HCPs citing lack of family physicians as a major barrier
- 74%
- HCPs citing long waitlists as a major barrier
- 58%
- HCPs citing inappropriate referrals as a major barrier
- 48%
- Patients reporting challenges with medication use (adverse effects, out-of-pocket costs, limited insurance coverage)
- 44%
- Patients reporting hospital visits at least once for vasculitis-related symptoms, most commonly disease flare
- 83%
- HCPs reporting challenges with prescribing or accessing medications (prior authorizations, step therapy protocols)
- 80%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Navigating the Roadblocks: National Patient and Provider Survey on Barriers to Healthcare and Medication Access for Patients With Vasculitis. J Rheumatol. Published 1 October 2025. doi:10.
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