Australians living with psoriatic arthritis can now become more active and informed in their own journey with the disease through a new online hub, launched by Arthritis Australia.
The new hub, MyPsA, will be able to build individually tailored profiles, access customised information about their condition, and link with relevant support services.
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints. It affects around 200,000 Australians. Three out of every 10 people with the skin condition psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.
“MyPsA is a vital tool for helping those living with psoriatic arthritis to get a greater depth of knowledge on how to manage this complex condition,” said Arthritis Australia CEO Jonathan Smithers.
"Along with consulting regularly with their rheumatologist, people with psoriatic arthritis should also have easy access to reputable sources of information so they can learn more about their condition, and MyPsA can offer them just that,” said Professor Susanna Proudman, a rheumatologist and medical director of Arthritis Australia.
MyPsA visitors will also be able to link with support programs offered across the country through state and territory arthritis organisations.
“Australians living with psoriatic arthritis have not been able to access simple, centralised, and relevant information about this condition before today. I'm hugely excited about the potential MyPsA has to improve lives,” said Mr Smithers.
MyPsA offers information about the psoriatic arthritis, as well as a range of links for treatment options and ways to improve the management of the condition. It will provide tips about lifestyle changes that can make living with psoriatic arthritis more manageable.
"We want every Australian living with psoriatic arthritis to have access to up-to-date news, information, and treatment options regardless of where they are on their journey or where they live around the country,” said Mr Smithers.