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Global and National Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Publish date:

The age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are increasing globally, especially in countries such as Canada, Paraguay, and Guatemala, a new study found. The systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2017 modeled the burden of RA for 195 countries from 1990 to 2017. All estimates were presented as counts and age-standardized rates per 100,000 population, with uncertainty intervals (UIs). Researchers found:

  • Globally, the age-standardized point prevalence and annual incidence rates of RA were 246.6 and 14.9, which increased by 7.4% and 8.2% from 1990, respectively.
  • The age-standardized rate of RA disability adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 population was 43.3 in 2017, which was a 3.6% decrease from the 1990 rate.
  • The global age-standardized DALY rate decreased from 1990 to 2012 but then increased and reached higher than expected levels in the following 5 years.

Citation:

Safiri S, et al. Global, regional and national burden of rheumatoid arthritis 1990-2017: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study 2017. [Published online ahead of print September 11, 2019]. Ann Rheum Dis. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-215920.

Commentary:

As the treatment of RA advances both in terms of strategy and available medications, the global epidemiology of RA is of great significance. This study looks at trends of RA prevalence, incidence, and associated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 195 countries from 1990-2017, providing comparative data suggestive of different national trends. For example, globally, the incidence and prevalence of RA increased by 7.4% and 8.2% from 1990 to 2017, with sharp increases in Canada, Paraguay, and Guatemala of between 37% and 54%; the reasons for this increase are not clear. The overall highest prevalence and incidence were noted in the UK. Though the specific reasons for these increases are beyond the scope of this study, these findings highlight the need for further evaluation of national and global trends in RA to better address RA as a public health issue. —Arundathi Jayatilleke, MD

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