Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by synovitis, joint damage and subsequent physical dysfunction. Assessment of physical disability helps in finding out the extent of disease activity. (18) The scores calculated for this assessment correlate well with the joint damage. Regular assessment of patient’s status is also necessary for monitoring the response of treatment.
Various assessment tools are used to objectively assess the disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Cadena et al (19) carried out a study in Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana in Medellin, Colombia with a sample size of 79 using Quality of Life for RA scale and Rheumatoid Attitude Index. The study revealed that nineteen patients (24%)
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Type 2 DM constitutes more than 95% of all adults with diabetes mellitus. India is one of the centres of the global diabetes mellitus epidemic and has the second highest number of people with the disease in the world (~69 million individuals as of 2015)(36)
Diabetes Mellitus is diagnosed using the American diabetes Association ADA criteria(37) (38). The established glucose criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes that include the FPG (>126 mg/dl) and two hour plasma glucose > 200mg/dl during an OGTT is still valid. Additionally, patients with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis can be diagnosed when a random plasma glucose is ≥200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L). HbA1C, which relects the glycemic status of 2-3 months has been recommended for the diagnosis of DM with a threshold of > 6.5%.
Long-term complications of diabetes include microvascular and macrovascular complications(39). These complications are mainly attributed to the duration of disease and overall glycemic control. Micro vascular complications include retinopathy with potential loss of vision; nephropathy leading to renal failure; peripheral neuropathy with risk of foot ulcers, amputations, and Charcot joints; and autonomic neuropathy causing gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and cardiovascular symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Macrovascular complications include increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular, peripheral arterial, and cerebrovascular
Rheumatoid Arthritis has been subject of numerous studies and researches in the look for a better understanding of how it effects the individuals diagnosed with it. There is a higher incident of females diagnosed with RA than male as well as a relationship with genetic and environmental factors involved. Around one percent of the world population is affected by RA; therefore, diverse studies have been performed to understand how the lives of the diagnosed patients can be impacted by the disease. For example, how RA affects the mobility, safety and activities of daily living in general as well as the development of interventions to better approach RA. On
Today in the United States there is an estimated 1.3 million people living and dealing with rheumatoid arthritis (Arthritis Foundation). One might ask, what exactly is rheumatoid arthritis? Well, rheumatoid arthritis, also commonly known as RA, is a form of inflammatory disease and an autoimmune disease. If the person is a minor, or below the age of six-teen, then the chronic disease can also go by the name of juvenile arthritis. The juvenile arthritis is, “Defined as chronic inflammation of the synovial joints, with unknown etiology, which starts before the age of sixteen and persists for at least six weeks” (Hink et al 1). This disease can affect anyone with a functioning immune system. Out of the 1.3 million people in the United States that have rheumatoid arthritis, 70% of that number is women (RA.com). Once again there are no certain reasons as to who receives this disease whether its children, elders, Caucasians, African Americans, etc. But once they do receive the illness, then it affects them immensely. “The disease is systemic, meaning it can occur throughout the whole body. It’s a chronic disease, so it can’t be cured” (Arthritis Foundation). The pain, stiffness and fatigue can affect the entire body. “RA occurs when your immune system, the system that protects your body from outside harm, mistakenly starts attacking healthy tissue” (RA.com). Rheumatoid arthritis is an incurable disease that is affecting
Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is abbreviated as (RA), by definition, is an inflammatory immune-mediated defect. In developed countries, its prevalence is about 0.5 to 1%. It is a serious disease whose effects can at times lead to permanent disability. Some of the effects include bone erosion, articular destruction and chronic synovial inflammation, which results in functional decline and disability. The Introduction of effective and efficient intervention has been put in place to reduce joint damage and functional impairment.
People who have rheumatic diseases should see a rheumatologist in order to determine the precise form of arthritis and the stage of the disease. General physical examination is necessary, beyond that there is a specific rheumatic disease exam that include blood tests, x-rays, and a complete exam of the joints. Blood tests are helpful to confirm diagnosis because they can check for factors that are typical of other chronic diseases as well as specific for
As rheumatoid arthritis (RA) advance, it affect a person’s lifestyle, job, family role, activity of daily living, and it can also cause a person to be become depressed because they cannot do things they are able to do before they were diagnosed. RA occurs at any age and it is mostly common in women who ages 40-60 years (Jennie Walker, 2012). RA impacts the whole system in the body including lungs, heart, eyes, and result in an increase cardiovascular risk (Jill Firth, 2012). Rheumatoid arthritis also affects small and larger joints such as hands, feet, (small joints) knee, wrist, ankles, and shoulders (Walker, 2012). RA patient feels fatigue, weight loss, dry eye, and mouth (Firth, 2012). Physical therapist needs to encourage RA
Once the main causes of arthritis are identified and therapy is initiated, a pain log or diary is an appropriate tool to assess the effectiveness of the treatment provided. The patients are normally encouraged to record their pain characteristics on a daily basis. This will allow the healthcare providers to evaluate the progression of the patients throughout the treatment. Regular pain reassessment is done by using the previously administered pain scales. This is a vital step to modify the treatment or therapy in order to assure an optimal and positive outcome (Cavalieri,
Furthermore, it is very important to take the patient condition into account when deciding which pain assessment method to be used. This is to ensure that the pain assessment method is suitable and understandable by the specific patient. There are various types of patients suffering from arthritis. The health care providers or the researchers may find some obstacles when dealing with different kinds of patients. Some may have cognitive issues, particularly the elderly; some may have communication problems, for instance, the neonates; some may have limited educational level such as children. Hence, it is necessary to select and modify the pain assessment method to suit the ability of different kind of
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that affects about 1.3 million people in America. It causes pain and swelling around the joints. Other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include fatigue, tenderness and weakness in the joints. There are a number of rheumatoid arthritis treatments available. The goal of treatment is to control the condition and improve a patient's quality of life.
Arthritis is a term that is used to describe any disorders that affects the joints, ranging from limited areas, self-limiting conditions, to the systemic immune-mediated processed. The form, severity of the symptoms, and the complexity of the treatments can vary depending on the type of the disease. The various rheumatic conditions share a noticeable or accompanying symptom of the joint inflammation (Porth, 2015, p. 1119).
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterised by the inflammation of the joints, often accompanied by deformities. Moreover, rheumatoid arthritis is a gradual condition, developing over several months and years. Furthermore, diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis the moment its symptoms appear is vital for its treatment and prevention. Considering the fact that rheumatoid arthritis has no exact cause and no known cure, many people are participating in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a growing and life- changing disease in Australia, creating negative social and economic consequences for both the individual patient and society. A disorder in which the body attacks its own healthy cells and tissues resulting in limited movement and inflamed joints in the body. Rheumatoid Arthritis has been chosen as a National Health Priority Area as it is a prevalent disease and the conditions are a significant cause of disability. The topics being discussed in this essay will include the definition of the disease Rheumatoid Arthritis: reasons for inclusion as a priority health issue focusing on the incidence and prevalence in the Australian population, risk factors for developing Rheumatoid Arthritis and
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systematic inflammatory disease characterized by synovitis (constant inflammation of the synovial membranes) and autoantibodies. The disease that affects 0.5-1.0% of all adults in industrialized countries, mostly women and elderly people (Scott et al, 2010). In the United States, more than 1.5 million people suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, making it one of the most common auto-immune disease (Carmona et al. 2010). According to the Arthritis Foundation, individuals who suffer from arthritis have to deal with joint pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, loss of appetite, depressive symptoms, and low-grade fever which can last a few days to weeks. Individuals with this disease tend to have a low-quality of life and difficulties with day-to-day activities.
Patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis present chronic systemic inflammation, contributing to a variety of symptoms such as pain in joints, muscle cachexia (muscle wasting) and decreased muscular function, and so reducing their quality of life (Ekdahl and Broman. 1992). Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the systemic inflammation of the synovial membrane of one or more joints and an abnormally high presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. (Cooney, Law et al. 2011).
Life presents everyone with various challenges, but a patient suffering with rheumatoid arthritis has a grim and debilitating existence. Thus, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that produces pain, inflammation, stiffness, redness, tenderness, and extreme deformity of many joints of the human body. Thus, everyday activities pose a significant obstacle for a patient with this enervating condition. Surprisingly, most people RA lead highly productive, full, and rather satisfying lives. It has subsisted that two to three million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, and about 200,000 people are newly diagnosed each year. Therefore, about 1 percent of the population has this condition, which affects people of all races and ethnic groups. Even though, people of all ages can develop rheumatoid arthritis, it is most commonly first affects people in their twenties, thirties, and forties. Research shows that RA has three times more prevalent in women than men that have this condition (Shlotzhauer and Hoplans 2014). Therefore, this brief research will disclose the definition of Rheumatoid Arthritis, patient prevalence, diagnosis, prognosis, and patient experience.
Although life bestows upon everyone various challenges, a patient suffering with rheumatoid arthritis has a grim and debilitating existence. Thus, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that produces pain, inflammation, stiffness, redness, tenderness, and extreme deformity of many joints of the human body. Thus, everyday activities pose a significant obstacle for a patient with this enervating condition. Surprisingly, most people RA lead highly productive, full, and rather satisfying lives. Consequently, there are is an estimated two to three million Americans diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and about 200,000 newly diagnosed cases annually. Therefore, about 1 percent of the population has this condition, which affects people