Lilly and NRAS Launch New Film for RA Awareness Week to Reveal the True Impact of RA - Seite 2

Using traditional and social media platforms to recruit respondents, 1,250 people with RA and 65 healthcare professionals were surveyed in the UK to identify what matters most to people with RA in terms of activities, work, personal relationships and aspirations^[1]. The survey revealed:

• Over half of people with RA feel the disease negatively affects relationships in terms of inclusion in family or social events (55%) and quality of time spent with others (52%)^[1]
• 28% of people with RA said that their RA forced them to go on long-term leave or retire and nearly a quarter (23%) felt that their career progression had slowed^[1]
• 50% of people with RA found the difficulty of using their hands and the unpredictability of how they feel are the main challenges to carrying out work^[1]
• The three main barriers which prevented people with RA in the UK from undertaking everyday activities such as housework, exercising and washing/personal grooming were: fatigue (59%), aching and stiff joints (57%) and pain (55%). HCPs underestimated the impact of fatigue on patients by 10 per cent.^[1]

"RA Awareness Week aims to help people understand what it's really like to live with rheumatoid arthritis," said Dr. Greg van Wyk, Senior Medical Director, Lilly UK. "The RA Matters survey revealed that our lack of understanding of the physical and emotional impact of RA and how it makes people with RA feel still remains a barrier to improving the lives of those living with this disease. At Lilly we want to understand and listen to the challenges that face people living with RA and we are committed to working in partnership with the rheumatology community to help people better manage their disease."

About Rheumatoid Arthritis 

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation and progressive destruction of joints.^[2] More than 23 million people worldwide suffer from RA.^[3] Approximately three times as many women as men have the disease.^[4]

About RA Matters 

6,208 people participated in the RA Matters survey, of which 5,400 were people who had been diagnosed with RA, and 808 were rheumatologists or healthcare professionals (HCPs) that treat RA. The survey was carried out between November 4, 2016 and February 13, 2017, from eight participating countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom). The RA Matters survey set out to fill a gap in the existing RA evidence base. The over-arching objective of the survey was to demonstrate the real unmet need in RA. Specifically the survey explored the outcomes and quality of life related areas that are most important, relevant and impactful of patients' lives.^[1]