New research highlighting the devastating impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on peoples' lives has found that one third of people with RA do not always tell their healthcare professionals the true extent of their symptoms.1
When asked why, 19% of respondents to the ICM poll confessed that they were worried about having their treatment taken away1 and one in four admitted that they were worried that there might not be any other treatment options available.1
Dr Andrew Ostör, Consultant Rheumatologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge, said: "These findings make for worrying reading. We know the key to effective disease management is open and honest communication between patients and their clinician and these results suggest this isn't happening, leaving patients in unnecessary pain. There are a variety of treatments available, including recently approved therapies such as rituximab which targets the B-cells in the inflammatory cascade. It should be within the grasp of all people with RA to have their disease effectively managed."
Sue Oliver, a Nurse Consultant in Rheumatology, commented: "We need to make sure we are encouraging patients to talk openly about their symptoms. Ensuring that they not only know what to expect from their current treatments but also what options are available should these not work. Only when we have open and honest communication with patients will we be able to make truly informed treatment decisions, minimising the impact of this debilitating disease on the lives of those affected."
Stakeholders are calling for better communication between healthcare professionals and patients to improve management of this debilitating condition.
The ReAlife Campaign, sponsored by Roche Products Ltd, strives to improve understanding of the day-to-day impact of RA and make sure the real price of the disease is not forgotten.
About the research
The research was conducted amongst 400 people with rheumatoid arthritis. It found that:1
· 61% of people think their RA has had a negative effect on their sex life
· 70% of people aged 25-34 feel that RA has had a negative impact on their relationship with their partner
· 15% agree it was a contributing fact in their divorce/ separation
· 36% agree the disease makes it difficult to embark on new relationships
About RA
There are currently over 487,000 people in England and Wales with RA,2,3 many of whom will only be in their 30s when the disease onsets.4 The disease can cause relentless pain, extreme fatigue, disability and has significant impact on peoples' social and working lives. Between 1999-2000, 9.4 million working days were lost in Great Britain due to this disease, the equivalent of £833 million in lost production.5 RA is an autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation that leads to painful, stiff and swollen joints.