What is Rheumatoid arthritis?

What is Rheumatoid arthritis?

• Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune form of arthritis usually in teens or young adults.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures; etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.
  Source - Diseases Database
• Rheumatoid arthritis: a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint.
  Source - WordNet 2.1

Name and Aliases of Rheumatoid arthritis

Main name of condition: Rheumatoid arthritis

RA, Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid disease, Felty's syndrome, RA Source - Diseases Database

Atrophic arthritis, Rheumatism
Source - WordNet 2.1

Types of Rheumatoid arthritis:

Subtypes of Rheumatoid arthritis: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), Pauciarticular JRA, Polyarticular JRA, Systemic JRA
Parent types of Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune diseases, Rheumatic conditions, Shoulder conditions, Arthritis, Connective tissue disorders, Wrist conditions, Adolescent conditions, Hip conditions, Hand conditions

Organs Affected by Rheumatoid arthritis:

joints, hand, wrist, shoulder, hip, knees, feet

How many people get Rheumatoid arthritis?

Prevalance of Rheumatoid arthritis: 2.5 million Americans (NWHIC); 1% of US population (NIAMS)
Prevalance Rate of Rheumatoid arthritis: approx 1 in 108 or 0.92% or 2.5 million people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Rheumatoid arthritis: Scientists estimate that about 2.1 million people, or 1 percent of the U.S. adult population, have rheumatoid arthritis. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS) ... About 1 percent of the U.S. population (about 2.1 million people) has rheumatoid arthritis. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases: NIAMS)

Who gets Rheumatoid arthritis?

Patient Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: Typically adolescents or young adults.
Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: Although the disease often begins in middle age and occurs with increased frequency in older people, children and young adults also develop it. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS) ... Rheumatoid arthritis, which affects 2.5 million Americans, can strike at any age, but usually appears between ages 20 and 50. (Source: excerpt from Arthritis: NWHIC)
Gender Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: More common in women; 71% women (NWHIC); Women 4:1 (NWHIC).
Gender Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: Like some other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis occurs much more frequently in women than in men. About two to three times as many women as men have the disease. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS)
Race Profile for Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in all races and ethnic groups. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS)

How serious is Rheumatoid arthritis?

Prognosis of Rheumatoid arthritis: Normal lifespan typical. At least 70% lead an active normal life (usually with medications).
Prognosis of Rheumatoid arthritis: Although rheumatoid arthritis can have serious effects on a person's life and well-being, current treatment strategies--including pain relief and other medications, a balance between rest and exercise, and patient education and support programs--allow most people with the disease to lead active and productive lives. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Rheumatoid Arthritis: NIAMS) ... With proper treatment, education, and changes in lifestyle, most women with rheumatoid arthritis live long and productive lives. (Source: excerpt from Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC)
Complications of Rheumatoid arthritis: see complications of Rheumatoid arthritis

What causes Rheumatoid arthritis?

Class of Condition for Rheumatoid arthritis: autoimmune
Causes of Rheumatoid arthritis: see causes of Rheumatoid arthritis
Risk factors for Rheumatoid arthritis: see risk factors for Rheumatoid arthritis

Can anyone else get Rheumatoid arthritis?

Contagion of autoimmunity: generally not; see details in contagion of autoimmune diseases.

How is it treated?

Doctors and Medical Specialists for Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatologist, Orthopedic surgeon ; see also doctors and medical specialists for Rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis: see treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis
Research for Rheumatoid arthritis: see research for Rheumatoid arthritis

Society issues for Rheumatoid arthritis

Hospitalization statistics for Rheumatoid arthritis: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Rheumatoid arthritis:

• 0.05% (6,633) of hospital consultant episodes were for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 95% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 27% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 73% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 9% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 9 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 6 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 60 was the mean age of patients hospitalised for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 44% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis occurred in 15-59 year olds in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 11% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis occurred in people over 75 in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 54% of hospital consultant episodes for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were single day episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0.045% (23,708) of hospital bed days were for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0.26% (33,294) of hospital consultant episodes were for other rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 95% of hospital consultant episodes for other rheumatoid arthritis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 25% of hospital consultant episodes for other rheumatoid arthritis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 75% of hospital consultant episodes for other rheumatoid arthritis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 10% of hospital consultant episodes for other rheumatoid arthritis required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 10.2 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for other rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 6 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for other rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 59 was the mean age of patients hospitalised for other rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 48% of hospital consultant episodes for other rheumatoid arthritis occurred in 15-59 year olds in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 15% of hospital consultant episodes for other rheumatoid arthritis occurred in people over 75 in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 54% of hospital consultant episodes for other rheumatoid arthritis were single day episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0.24% (127,221) of hospital bed days were for other rheumatoid arthritis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)