Global Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associations with Sex, Sociodemographic Status, Geographic Regions, and Risk Factors 1990-2019: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Abstract

ObjectivesAlthough rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a well-known autoimmune disease worldwide, comprehensive study of RA based on global regions is lacking. Indeed, most literature is regional or focuses on genetic features of RA. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the global burden of RA and associations with geographical region and sociodemographic status.MethodsData on RA were collected by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database between 1990 and 2019. Raw numbers and age-standardized rates of prevalence, incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of RA were extracted from GBD 2019 for 204 countries and territories and stratified by sex, sociodemographic index (SDI), and geographical region. The burden attributable to tobacco was described.ResultsIn 2019, the total number of patients with RA was 18.5 million [95% uncertainty interval (UI) 16.9-20.4million], with the age-standardized prevalence rate of RA remaining at similar level from 207.5 [190-227] per 100,000 population in 1990 to 224.2 [204.9 to 246] per 100,000 population in 2019, showing a 9.25%[8.66-9.83] increase. The incidence of RA increased from 567462 [519417-621414] in 1990 to 1074390 [975501-1179332] in 2019; the incidence rate of RA only slightly increased to 13.00 [11.83-14.27] per 100,000 in 2019.ConclusionsThe global prevalence of RA increased worldwide from 1990 to 2019. The burden of RA is significantly associated with geographic region, and lower SDI. Understanding this complex interplay of environmental, sociodemographic, and geographic risk factors is essential to alleviate the severe disease burden of RA.

Note:

Funding Information: None.

Declaration of Interests: None.