Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Live With Significant Emotional and Physical Limitations

For people living with rheumatoid arthritis, there are obvious physical limitations, but there are emotional limitations that are less obvious. Two surveys, known as the GeneRAtions surveys, attempt to paint a real picture of life with rheumatoid arthritis -- a picture that is often hard for rheumatoid arthritis patients to explain and hard for others to understand. The surveys, conducted by Manhattan research and supported by Centocor, Inc. (the maker of Remicade), offer feedback from 1,000 people living with rheumatoid arthritis and more than 300 doctors who specialize in treating the disease. The surveys were designed to increase understanding of rheumatoid arthritis through the perspectives of patients who have lived with the disease and doctors who treated the disease for various lengths of time over a 30-year time span.

While great strides have been made with regard to diagnosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis, the surveys revealed that:

• more than 90% of people with rheumatoid arthritis reported that the disease interfered with their work in the last 3 months
• physicians said that limitations on physical activities were the most restrictive consequence for their patients
• more than half of patients believe the public does not understand the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
• 2/3 of patients believe family and friends underestimate the impact of the disease
• more than half of patients felt doctors do not fully understand the impact of the disease
• 80% of patients look forward to new treatment options in the future
• patients felt sad or depressed because of the disease for an average of 25 days out of the last 3 months

The survey results highlight the significant impact of rheumatoid arthritis on daily living. Patients said they had difficulty with normal daily activities for 31 days of the last 3 months. Treatments that have improved in the last decade certainly help patients manage the disease -- but better understanding of the impact of the disease on their lives would significantly boost quality of life for patients.

Related Resources:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis Screening Quiz
• Test Your Knowledge - Rheumatoid Arthritis
• 10 Things You Should Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Family and Friends - Do They Understand Your Arthritis?

_{Photo by Joanne Green (iStockphoto)}