Rheumatoid Arthritis Cases Rise by 13 Percent Globally, Affecting Younger Populations: Study

"While previous Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies have provided important insights, they have largely focused on high-level descriptions and visualisations at global and national scales, failing to capture local disparities or the dynamic interactions between socioeconomic development and disease trends," said Queran Lin, the study’s principal investigator from Imperial College London.

Interestingly, the burden was highest in regions with a high sociodemographic index (SDI), though these areas also began to see improvements. Japan, for instance, reduced Rheumatoid arthritis burden by over 22%, thanks to early diagnosis, access to biologic treatments, and an anti-inflammatory diet. Meanwhile, low- and middle-SDI regions are projected to see increased burden by 2040 due to ageing and population growth. The study emphasized that controlling smoking—particularly in high-prevalence areas like China—could reduce Rheumatoid arthritis -related deaths by 16.8% and decrease overall disease burden by over 20%.

Reference: Spatiotemporal distributions and regional disparities of rheumatoid arthritis in 953 global to local locations, 1980-2040, with deep learning-empowered forecasts and evaluation of interventional policies’ benefits, Jin, Wenyi et al., Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0