Quick List: Rheumatoid Arthritis Facts & Figures

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints. Learn more facts about rheumatoid arthritis.

• Rheumatoid arthritis is found all over the world. In the United States, about 2 million people have rheumatoid arthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions.
• Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, but most often occurs after 30 and before 60.
• In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually, but not always, affected in a symmetrical pattern.
• Damage to joints can occur early and can occur even with mild symptoms.
• Chronic inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.
• 75% of people with rheumatoid arthritis are women. In women with rheumatoid arthritis, the disease often goes away completely during pregnancy. Rheumatoid arthritis in women is usually less severe than in men.
• The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known.
• There is a genetic component to developing rheumatoid arthritis, but it is not very strong. Many people who develop the disease do not have anyone else in their family with RA.
• The "rheumatoid factor" is an antibody blood test that can be found in 80% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
• In a small number of people, rheumatoid arthritis can be very mild, going years in between symptoms.
• For most people who have it, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease that needs to be carefully managed throughout life.
• Some people have severe disease that requires intense treatment.
• There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
• The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis optimally involves a combination of patient education, rest and exercise, joint protection, medications, and occasionally surgery.
• Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis results in better outcomes.