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An estimated 40% of patients are unable to work within 5 years of an RA diagnosis

Disease burdon

The Burden of RA Disease

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, destructive, inflammatory autoimmune disease.1
  • The World Health Organization estimates that RA affects 23.7 million people worldwide,2 with a prevalence of 0.3–1.0% of the adult population.3
    • Around twice as many women as men are affected.3
  • As the disease progresses, patients with RA suffer significant disability and a marked reduction in their quality of life.1
    • An estimated 40% of patients with RA will be unable to work within 5 years of diagnosis, and 50% within 10 years.4
  • The burden of RA therefore includes:
    • Direct effects on a patient’s ability to carry out normal daily tasks (view video)
    • A significant impact on a patient’s quality of life
    • Economic implications – for patients, their families and the healthcare system.

References:

  1. Smolen JS & Steiner G. Therapeutic strategies for rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2003; 2:473–488.
  2. World Health Organization. The global burden of disease: 2004 update. Geneva: WHO Press, 2008.
  3. Symmons D, et al. The global burden of rheumatoid arthritis in the year 2000. 2006.
  4. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. RA in Adults: Final Scope. 2007.