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. 2020 Nov 26:S1699-258X(20)30243-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.reuma.2020.10.006. Online ahead of print.

Current State, Control, Impact and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis According to Patient: AR 2020 National Survey

[Article in English, Spanish]
Laly Alcaide  1 , Antonio I Torralba  1 , José Eusamio Serre  2 , Carlos García Cotarelo  2 , Estíbaliz Loza  3 , Francisca Sivera  4
Affiliations
Free article

Current State, Control, Impact and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis According to Patient: AR 2020 National Survey

[Article in English, Spanish]
Laly Alcaide et al. Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed). .
Free article

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse current status, control and impact of RA on patients' lives as well as the management of RA symptoms.

Methods: A structured anonymous online questionnaire was designed and sent to patients with RA, aged 18 years or above living in Spain. Participants were invited though different strategies: 1) ConArtritis and related patients associations; 2) Patients participating in the platform www.in-pacient.es; 3) Links from ConArtritis website and open social networks. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, as well as others related to the objectives were collected. A descriptive analysis was performed.

Results: We analysed 882 RA patients, 89% women, with a median age of 52 years, 31.9% disease duration <5 years. They reported a mean pain and patient global disease score (0-10) of 5.1 and 4.9 respectively. The rate of patients with many difficulties or inability to perform daily tasks varied from 6.4% to 49.2%. Based on the activity index 56.8% of patients reported high activity. We found a great or severe impact on the emotional well-being in 31.5% of patients, and of 29.2% in the workplace or academic setting. A total of 87.9% are taking some medication for RA, and 17.3% are little / not satisfied with them. In addition, 67.1% take conventional synthetic disease modifying drugs (DMARDs), and 45.9% biological therapies including biosimilars and small molecules.

Conclusions: The current impact of RA on patients' daily lives remains very high. A significant number of patients are not taking DMARDs (conventional synthetic and / or biologics) despite high activity.

Keywords: Artritis reumatoide; Calidad de vida; Dolor; Encuesta; Fatiga; Fatigue; Pain; Quality of life; Rheumatoid arthritis; Survey; Tratamiento; Treatment.

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