A new survey sheds light on how rheumatoid arthritis affects female patients. Data collected from 1,958 women from seven countries, including the U.S., showed that almost three-quarters of patients (72 percent) suffered pain daily and that the women's disease had a negative impact on their social and professional lives. From a Medical News Today piece:
Women with RA reported suffering feelings of detachment and isolation and said that their condition had negatively affected intimate relationships; with 40% of single women stating that it was more challenging to find a partner and 22% of divorced or separated respondents indicating that RA played a role in their decision to separate from their partner. Sixty eight percent of women with RA reported concealing their pain from those closest to them, and 67% said they constantly look for new ideas to address the pain they suffer.
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The survey further explored the negative impact of the disease and pain on respondents' productivity at work with 71% of those who were employed at the time of the survey (n=1,108), reporting they were less productive at work because of their RA. Many respondents reported that RA had a long term effect on their work life, with 23% of respondents stopping work altogether and 17% of respondents reporting a switch to part-time employment as a result of their RA.
The results are being presented at the EULAR 2010, the annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism, in Rome.
Previously: Rates of rheumatoid arthritis rising in women
