Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term inflammatory condition that affects more than your joints. The illness can harm a range of body systems in some people, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
In Rheumatoid Arthritis, Poverty Is Linked To A Worse Functional Level
Patients with rheumatic disease, in particular, might be affected by social determinants of health. Despite the fact that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune rheumatic illness and a primary cause of disability, clinical and patient-reported outcomes are poorly understood.
Patients with rheumatic disease, in particular, might be affected by social determinants of health. Despite the fact that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune rheumatic illness and a primary cause of disability, clinical and patient-reported outcomes are poorly understood.
The treatment of RA has advanced dramatically in the last two decades, and many patients now have the opportunity to live a life free of major disabilities. It is unknown, however, whether therapy advancements have helped all groups. As a result, research to track gaps and inform policy to decrease them is both important and urgent.
One’s financial condition also proves important in countering this condition as most of the treatment options and therapies present with modern medical science are costly which only a few patients who are wealthy enough can afford. However, as per experts the price of such therapies and treatments is expected to be lower with more advancement in this direction over a period but at present it is not possible for each patient to go for the latest options.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system assaults your own body’s tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis, unlike osteoarthritis, affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually lead to bone degradation and joint deformity.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, which can cause harm to other regions of the body. Despite the fact that new types of drugs have greatly improved treatment choices, severe rheumatoid arthritis can still cause physical limitations.
Smaller joints, such as the joints that connect your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet, are often the first to be affected by early rheumatoid arthritis.
Wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips, and shoulders are frequently affected as the condition advances. Symptoms appear in the same joints on both sides of your body in the majority of cases.
About 40% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis also have indications and symptoms that aren’t related to their joints. Skin, eyes, lungs, heart, kidneys, salivary glands, nerve tissue, bone marrow, and blood arteries are all possible targets.
According to a study published online on Aug 4 in JAMA Network Open, people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with lower socioeconomic levels (SES) have worse functional status and a higher risk of functional decline.
Using data from the American College of Rheumatology’s Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness registry, Zara Izadi, M.Pharm., and colleagues investigated the relationship between socioeconomic status and functional status in patients with RA.
Patients having a verified RA diagnosis who were seen at participating rheumatology practices were included in the study. For all metrics, the researchers discovered that lower SES levels resulted in a lower mean functional status score (e.g., Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire quintile 1 and 5: 1.79 and 2.43, respectively).
In longitudinal analyses, the risk of functional deterioration was 14.1 and 18.9 percent in the highest and lowest SES quintiles, respectively. The relationship between SES and the functional decline was largely driven by disease activity (7 percent).
“Despite the use of rheumatologist care, we discovered significant inequalities in functional status by SES in a national sample of persons with RA,” the investigators wrote. “Future qualitative research is critical to advancing our understanding of factors that affect the functional status, especially factors that can be addressed outside of medical care.” A few of the authors revealed financial ties to the pharmaceutical sector.
