Largest and first comprehensive Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry launched in Kuwait

The press conference was chaired by Dr Adel Al Awadhi, Head of Kuwait Association of Rheumatology (KAR) and Dr Adeeba El Herz, Consultant Rheumatologist, Amiri Hospital, and opened by Zeydan Abuissa, Country Manager of Pfizer Gulf & Levant markets.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that causes pain, sti¬ffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints [1].

It causes inflammation that leads to swelling in the joints, making them progressively less and less mobile [1]. If not managed properly, over time, RA can cause joint damage and even result in permanent joint destruction [1].

The RA Registry in Kuwait will include data about patients with RA for the period from 2012 to 2017. It will provide important insights about RA, available treatment options and assess the safety and efficacy of these treatments.

Six renowned hospitals from all over Kuwait have participated in the RA Registry - Al Amiri, Mubarak Al Kabeer, Farwania, Adan, Jahra, Sabah Hospital in addition to the Shaikhan Al Farisi Center - with an ultimate aim to offer a better care to patients with RA.

Dr Adel Al Awadhi said, "About 1% of the world's population is afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis [1]. RA imposes significant social and economic burdens on the patients and country. If not treated effectively, patients would suffer from intense pain, become disabled and will need assistance in performing their daily activities; in addition to the cost that may occur due to their productivity loss and treatment expenses. We are delighted to launch the first RA Registry study in Kuwait as we believe it will generate vital datasets to showcase the patient's response to available RA therapies and hopefully to improve their care and treatment."

"It is necessary to constantly remind physicians about the importance of the RA early diagnosis. The early effective treatment of the disease may slow or even stop progression of joint damage [2]. We hope that this biggest and first comprehensive RA Registry in Kuwait would be able to ultimately improve the RA patient care," said Dr Adeeba Abdullah Al Herz.

"Pfizer adheres to its values of quality, innovation and collaboration with the local Kuwaiti community by supporting this valuable research which will generate considerable data from patients with RA. The outcome will enrich the knowledge about this disabling disease which will shorten the patients suffer of treatments trials by enabling them to administer an effective and safe medication hence presume their normal daily life," said Yasser El Dershaby, Medical Director, Pfizer Gulf & Levant states.