Dubai: Delay in treatment and non-compliance of patients is complicating the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a medical expert said.
Ahead of World Arthritis Day on October 12, Dr Waleed Yousuf Al Shehi, consultant rheumatologist at Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital in the Dubai HealthCare City (DHCC), said that a study indicated that people chose to delay treatment by nearly one and a half years, resorting to alternative and herbal treatments which further damaged the joints.
“Even after diagnosis, patient compliance is a challenge as studies indicate that only 43 per cent of the RA patients chose to use the medications,” he said.
Dr Shehi was addressing a forum in Dubai organised by Roche Academy Middle East, which invited experts to speak on ‘Pushing through the pain of RA’ and dispel myths about the condition and throw light on the treatment and management of the disease.
As most health insurers do not provide adequate cover for autoimmune or chronic conditions, patients tend to neglect the disease. Dr Shehi said. He added that health authorities in various emirates are in talks with health providers to resolve this issue.
“Insurance companies need to realise that the cost of the treatment is comparatively lower than the burden of expense of a non-productive person who has to give up his job due to RA.”
Studies indicate that within 10 years of the onset of RA, nearly 50 per cent of the patients in developed countries are unable to hold down a full-time job. “RA usually manifests in various joints of the body, especially in the small joints of the hands and feet,” explained Dr Shehi. “It can also affect other organs. A major goal of treating a person with RA is to help them reach remission, the point when all or most of the symptoms of the disease have gone away and further damage to the joints has stopped. Therefore, there is a need to increase patient awareness about the fact that, if controlled in time, the effect of RA can be minimised in daily life and in the long term,” he said.
“I had a patient of RA who, after treatment, went on to climb the Himalayas. With timely and effective treatment, life does get to be normal,” Dr Shehi said.
According to Mohammad Samir, medical director, Roche UAE, the key to proper management of RA is early diagnosis, correct treatment regimen, tailored physical activity and exercise, aquatherapy and a balanced diet. All these can delay and control the progression of RA, he said.
“The media can play an important role in disseminating this information and keeping the public informed about new treatments and management of RA,” said Samir.
