Delays in diagnosis result in disability for UAE's arthritis sufferers

Health professionals are urging the Ministry of Health to take an active role in the promotion of Rheumatoid Arthritis after local research found 45% of Arthritic patients presented with deformities and disabilities due to a delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Further research has found that 50% of patients in the UAE with Rheumatoid Arthritis are not taking the essential disease modifying medication required to prevent joint damage, compared with only 10% in western populations.

"Early diagnosis ensures measures can be taken to keep the disease under control, prevent joint damage and deformity, and allow patients to better manage the disease."

said Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Fattah, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Emirates Diagnostic Clinic, Welcare Hospital, Dubai.

Local health professionals say sufferers of the disease in the UAE are getting younger and Rheumatoid Arthritis is no longer a disease for the aged.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systematic disease which affects the entire body.

Common symptoms include pain and swelling in more than one joint, often affecting the fingers, wrist, elbows, toes, knees, shoulders and ankles.

Health experts believe a lack of general awareness on the community's part, and a significant shortage of practising Rheumatologists in the region, are the main factors contributing to the UAE's poor treatment record.

"The problem is exacerbated in the Middle East because many people do not receive regular health check-ups from family physicians. Patients too easily dismiss back aches, joint stiffness and swelling as 'part of getting older' and do not seek specialist opinion until the disease has progressed to a point where it is debilitating."said Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Fattah.

The study, conducted by doctors from the Dubai Bone & Joint Centre and published in leading European Health Journals, also discovered that UAE-based patients suffering with the ailment had higher than average disease activity levels.