Almost two-thirds of UK patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) do not feel their condition is well managed, according to a new report.
The research, funded by AbbVie, also found that just 26 per cent of UK RA patients say they have a disease management plan in place, compared to 56 per cent globally.
AbbVie, creator of the world biggest-selling arthritis drug Humira (adalimumab), saidthe global survey “prompts calls for increased collaboration between doctors and patients”.
The findings formed part of ‘RA: Join the Fight’, a global AbbVie initiative, which presented results from the survey of 10,171 patients from 42 countries at a conference in Madrid.
The anonymous survey also found that patients in the UK who say they have a disease management plan with their healthcare provider were nearly twice as likely to feel hopeful (25 per cent vs 15 per cent) and twice as likely to feel confident (24 per cent vs 10 per cent) about living with their RA over the past week as those who do not have a disease management plan.
In addition, patients who are more involved in the RA community, including those who are members of patient advocacy groups, are more likely to say they know a great deal or moderate amount about RA and visit their healthcare professional more regularly, according to AbbVie.
Tracey Hancock, director of development at the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, said: “This important survey confirms what our research has also told us – that living with RA can have a devastating effect on a person and their family. However, it also shows that patients who manage their condition together with their healthcare professional team can lead a better life with RA.”