| Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease of
undetermined etiology involving primarily the synovial membranes and articular structures
of multiple joints.
Frequency:
In the U.S.: Occurrence rate is
approximately 1% in the U.S. The range is from 0.5% to over 5% with some ethnic variation.
- Internationally: Similar to the U.S.
Mortality/Morbidity:
Mortality from RA is primarily related to the patient's
overall deterioration in health, well being and functionality. RA patients become
susceptible to infection and secondary organ dysfunction, including lung disease, kidney
disease and GI hemorrhage.
Sex:
Female to male ratio is approximately 3:1.
Age:
Age of onset is usually between 25-50 years. The disease can
occur at any age but tends to peak in the fourth and fifth decades of life. The pediatric
form of RA is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA), which is characterized by onset prior
to 16 years of age and includes 3 categories of disease: polyarticular (multiple joints),
pauciarticular (less than four joints) and systemic (i.e., high fever, rash and organ
involvement). |