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Musculoskeletal conditions - arthritis and osteoporosis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune disease which causes pain, joint stiffness and loss of function.

Of the arthritis forms most commonly known, rheumatoid arthritis is the most serious and second most common after osteoarthritis¹.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the immune system in which the body's immune system attacks the tissues lining the joints (called synovial membranes), causing inflammation, pain and swelling². Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects multiple joints on both sides of the body at the same time. Known as an autoimmune disease, and usually chronic and unpredictable, the systemic condition can also affect other organs of the body, including the heart, lungs and eyes.

The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

• general feeling of ill-health and fatigue
• pain in the affected joints
• swelling and heating of the joints
• stiffness, which restricts movement and
• muscle weakness, as a result of inactivity due to inflammation

Rheumatoid arthritis is more prevalent with increasing age, particularly over the age of 45 years. The disease affects more women than men. There is also a form of the disease called juvenile idiopathic arthritis that affects children. While the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, there is a strong genetic component, with disease tending to 'run' in families³. Tobacco smoking may also contribute to the development of the disease, especially in at-risk individuals⁴.

Unlike osteoarthritis, where symptoms and associated changes in joint function occur gradually over many years, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis develop rapidly, often over a few weeks or months. In some cases, disease activity can cause severe damage to the joints in a relatively short period of time⁵.

Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be prevented, but early treatment by a medical practitioner is essential to preventing further deterioration. There is substantial evidence that disease modifying anti-rheumatic medication reduces progression of the disease, reduces functional disability and may improve life expectancy, particularly when started early.

¹ Page 2, A picture of rheumatoid arthritis in Australia, March 2009
² Page 10, Arthritis and osteoporosis in Australia 2008, AIHW, December 2008
³ Page 11, Arthritis and osteoporosis in Australia 2008, AIHW, December 2008
⁴ Page 11, A picture of rheumatoid arthritis in Australia, March 2009
⁵ Page 22, Arthritis and osteoporosis in Australia 2008, AIHW, December 2008

Page last reviewed: 23 August 2010