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ThismediaguidewascreatedbytheAmericanCollegeofRheumatologyandisdesignedtobeusedasareferencebymembersofthemediawhoarereportingonrheumaticdisease.

Inthisguideyouwillfind:

• GeneralinformationabouttheACR,ARHPandRheumatologyResearchFoundation

• Up‐to‐dateprevalencestatistics

• Anoverviewofthemostcommonsformsofrheumaticdisease

• Aglossaryoftermsfrequentlyassociatedwithrheumaticdiseases

• InformationonACRinitiativessuchastheawardwinningSimpleTasks®campaign

Ifatanytime,youneedadditionalinformation,aquoteforastory,ortointerviewoneofourexperts‐,pleasedon’thesitatetocontactmediarelationsstaffattheACR.

Rheumatologistsaretheexpertsinthediagnosisandmanagementofrheumaticdiseases(e.g.,rheumatoidarthritisandlupus).Ifcaughtearly,andtreatedappropriately,long‐termcomplications(suchasjointdamageanddisability)canbeprevented.

TheACRcanhelpyouscheduleinterviewsonanynumberoftopicsrelatedtorheumaticdisease.Formoreinformation,ortoconnectwithanexpert,pleasecontactthePRdepartmentatpr@rheumatology.orgor(404)633‐3777

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ABOUTTHEACR,ARHPANDRHEUMATOLOGYRESEARCHFOUNDATION

ABOUTTHEACRTheAmericanCollegeofRheumatologyisaninternationalprofessionalmedicalsocietythatrepresentsmorethan9,000rheumatologistsandrheumatologyhealthprofessionalsaroundtheworld.Itsmissionistoadvancerheumatologythroughprogramsofeducation,research,advocacyandpracticesupportthatfosterexcellenceinthecareofpeoplearthritis,rheumaticandmusculoskeletaldiseases.

TheACR/ARHPAnnualMeetingisthepremiermeetinginrheumatology.In2013,themeetingattractedapproximately11,800professionalattendees,withanestimated15,000totalattendees.TheACRprovidesprofessionaleducationforitsmembersthroughseveralvenues.TheACR/ARHPAnnualMeeting,heldeachfall,isthepremierscientificmeetingdevotedtotherheumaticdiseases.Thismeetingdrawsthousandsofrheumatologistsandrheumatologyhealthprofessionalsfromaroundtheworld.ProfessionalmeetingsandonlinecoursesroundouttheACR'seducationalofferings.

TheACRpublishesArthritis&Rheumatism,thepremierscientificjournalforresearchintherheumaticdiseases.ArthritisCare&ResearchispublishedbytheARHP.Thisjournalfocusesonthehealthservicesandclinicalaspectsofrheumatology.

ABOUTARHPTheAssociationofRheumatologyHealthProfessionals,adivisionoftheAmericanCollegeofRheumatology,isaprofessionalmembershipsocietycomposedofnon‐physicianhealthcareprofessionalsspecializinginrheumatology,suchasadvancedpracticenurses,nurses,occupationaltherapists,physicaltherapists,psychologists,socialworkers,epidemiologists,physicianassistants,educators,clinicians,researchers,researchcoordinatorsandofficestaff.

ABOUTTHERHEUMATOLOGYRESEARCHFOUNDATIONThemissionoftheRheumatologyResearchFoundationisadvancingresearchandtrainingtoimprovethehealthofpeoplewithrheumaticdiseases.

Sinceitsfoundingin1985,theFoundationhasawarded$100milliontomorethan2,200recipients.TheFoundationhascommittednearly$13.3millioninresearchandtrainingfundingin2014.TheFoundationoffersanextensiveawardsprogramwithresearchandeducationopportunitiesforclinicians,students,healthprofessionals,researchersandacademicinstitutionsandisthelargestprivatefundingsourceofrheumatologytrainingandresearchprogramsintheUnitedStates.

TheRheumatologyResearchFoundationisclassifiedasa501(c)(3)organization.AlldonationstotheFoundationaretaxdeductible.TheFoundationhasreceivedconsecutive4‐starratingsfromCharityNavigator,America'slargestandmost‐utilizedindependentevaluatorofcharities.

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WHATISARHEUMATOLOGIST?

Justasoncologiststreatcancerandcardiologistscarefortheheart,rheumatologistsarethespecialiststrainedtodiagnoseandtreatrheumaticdiseases.Rheumatologiststreatover100differentformsofrheumaticdiseases,arthritisandotherdiseasesofthejoints,musclesandbones.Inadditiontospecializinginthediagnosisandtreatmentofthesediseases,rheumatologistsarecareleaders,costsavers,andthesolutionformillionsofAmericans.

THESPECIALISTRheumatologistscompletefouryearsofmedicalschool,threeyearsoftrainingineitherinternalmedicineorpediatrics,andtwotothreeyearsofspecializedtraininginrheumatology.

Arheumatologistisspeciallytrainedtoidentifyrheumaticdiseases–suchasrheumatoidarthritis,lupus,gout,scleroderma,juvenilearthritis,andSjögren’ssyndrome–andtofacilitatetreatmentwiththeaimofachievingdiseaseremissionassoonaspossible.Todothis,rheumatologistsmusthavecomprehensiveknowledgeoftheimmunesystemandbeexpertsintheadministrationofcomplextreatments(suchasthebiologicsoftenusedtotreatcancerpatients).

THECARELEADERRheumatologistsunderstandtheimpactofrheumaticdiseasesontheentirebody.Thesediseasesarechronic,sorheumatologistsseetheirpatientsfrequentlyandoveranumberofyears–withmanypatientslookingtothemascareleaders.

Additionally,theexpertiseofrheumatologistsiscriticaltoeducatingandguidingreferringphysiciansinidentifyingtheredflagsofarheumaticdiseaseandassistinginongoinglong‐termpatientcare.

Rheumatologistsinvolveanumberofhealthcareprofessionalsinpatient‐careteams.Patientswitharheumaticdiseaseoftenseekguidanceonanumberofphysiologicalandemotionalhealthconcerns,aswellaspracticalissues.Rheumatologistsspearheadteamsthatcanincludenursepractitioners,physicaltherapists,psychologistsandsocialworkers.

THECOSTSAVEREarlyandappropriatetreatmentbyrheumatologistcandelay,sloworevenstopdiseaseprogression.Whenappropriatetreatmentisstartedearly,medicalcosts,disabilityandworklimitationsduetorheumaticdiseasescanallbereduced.

Recentdataindicatesarthritisandotherrheumaticdiseasesledto$127.8billioninmedicalcostsintheUnitedStates,nearlyaquartermorethanthe$104billionincostsforcancercare.Withearlyandappropriatereferraltoa

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rheumatologist,aperson’streatmentplancanbespecificallytailoredbypinpointingwhichtherapiesaremosteffective–savingmoneyandvaluabletimeonunnecessary,poorlyappliedandpossiblyineffectivetreatments.

THESOLUTIONForthemillionsofAmericanssufferingfromrheumaticdiseases,rheumatologistscanprovideanswers,reliefandhope.Thefirstweeksandmonthsfollowingtheonsetofrheumaticdiseasesymptomsiscalledthewindowofopportunity–theshortperiodoftimeinwhichpatientswhogetappropriatetreatmentcandiminishthelong‐termcomplicationsoftheirrheumaticdisease.Withdiseasessocomplexanddebilitating,seeingarheumatologistduringthewindowofopportunityiscritical.

Peoplewithinflammatoryrheumaticdiseasesfacejointandorgandestruction,severepain,disabilityandevendeath.Rheumatologists,unlikeanyotherhealthcareproviders,areequippedwiththetoolstodetectandtreatthesediseases–providingsolutionstohelpthesepatientslivelifetothefullest.

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ONLINE:HTTP://WWW.SIMPLETASKS.ORG/WHAT‐IS‐A‐RHEUMATOLOGIST

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COMMONRHEUMATIC DISEASESANDCONDITIONS

Therearemorethan100rheumaticdiseases,includingcommondegenerativeconditions(suchasosteoarthritis)andlesscommondiseasescharacterizedbyinflammationandautoimmunity(suchasrheumatoidarthritisandlupus).

Thesediseasescanaffectjoints,tendons,ligaments,bonesandmuscles. Somerheumaticdiseasesmayalsoinvolveinternalorganssuchasthekidneysorlungs.Commonsymptomsincludejointpain,stiffness,swellingandweakness.Fatigueisanothercommonproblem,causedbychronicpainanddisruptedsleep.Frequentlytheseconditionsleadtolossoffunction,whichcausesaninabilitytocarryoutactivitiesofdailyliving.Thetablebelowhighlightsseveralconditionsthatarefrequentlyencounteredinrheumatology:

OsteoarthritisOsteoporosisFibromyalgia

CarpalTunnelSyndrome

Tendonitis

Bursitis

LowBackPain

SpinalStenosis

Commondiseasesseeninprimarycare,whichoccasionallyrequirerheumatologyassistancefordiagnosisand/ormanagement.

Gout

Pseudogout

Jointinflammationcausedbytheformationofcrystalswithinjoints.

RheumatoidArthritis

JuvenileIdiopathicArthritis

Commonformsofinflammatoryarthritisseeninadultsandchildren,respectively.

PsoriaticArthritisReactiveArthritisAnkylosingSpondylitisIBD‐AssociatedArthritis

Seronegative(rheumatoidarthritisbloodtestnegative)formsofarthritis. Autoimmunechronicjointinflammation,withadditionalmanifestationsoutsidethejointsinsomecases

PolymyalgiaRheumatica

GiantCellArteritis

Commoninflammatoryillnessinpatientsoverage50.

LupusPolymyositisSjögren’sSyndromeScleroderma

AntiphospholipidSyndrome

Autoimmunedisordersoftenreferredtoasthe

“connective tissue diseases.”

HepatitisCInfectionHIVInfectionParvovirusInfectionLymeInfection

BacterialInfectionofJoints

Infectionsofparticularimportancetorheumatology.

Paget’sDisease

Osteonecrosis

Glucocorticoid‐inducedOsteoporosis

Conditionsprimarilyaffectingbone.

Vasculitis Groupofrareconditionscausingbloodvesselinflammation.

ThyroidDisorderParathyroidDisorderVitaminDDeficiency

CortisolDeficiencyorExcessDisordersofGrowthHormoneDiabetesMellitus

ElectrolyteDisturbance

Metabolicdisturbancesthatmayleadtomusculoskeletalcomplaints.

FREQUENTLYUSEDTERMS

Analgesics‐medicationsinthiscategoryareusedspecificallyforpainrelief.Examplesincludeacetaminophenandopiates(suchascodeine,hydrocodone,oxycodoneandmorphine).OpioidanalgesicsarehighlyaddictiveandarethereforestrictlyregulatedbybothstateandfederalDrugEnforcementAgencies.Aspeciallicenseisrequiredtoprescribethisclassofmedications.

Acute‐inamedicalsetting“acute”usuallymeansofsomethingwhichhasasuddenonset,issevereanddoesnotlastlong.

Anti‐inflammatories–medicationsinthiscategorytreatinflammation,andhencerelieveinflammatorypain.Examplesincludeaspirinandnonsteroidalanti‐inflammatorydrugs,commonlyreferredtoasNSAIDs,suchasnaproxen,ibuprofen,meloxicam,celecoxib,nabumetoneanddiclofenac.Someoftheseagentsareavailableforover‐the‐counteruse.Stomachulcersandincreasedriskofbleedingaremajorsideeffectsofthesemedications.Theymayalsoreducekidneyfunctionandincreasebloodpressureinsomepatients.Elderlypatientshaveamuchhigherriskofproblemsrelatedtothesedrugs.

Arthritis‐meansdiseaseofordamagetothejoints.Althoughtheending–itisimpliesinflammation,insomeformsofarthritisthereisverylittleinflammationpresent.

Autoimmunedisease–adisorderofthebody'sdefensemechanism(immunesystem),inwhichantibodiesandothercomponentsoftheimmunesystemattackthebody'sowntissues.

Biologics‐medicationsinthiscategoryareproducedusingrecombinantDNAtechnology.Theyaregenerallymonoclonalantibodiesorfusionproteinsthattargetspecificimmunereceptors,orsolubleproductssuchascytokines.ExamplesincludeTNFblockers(etanercept,adalimumab,infliximab,golimumabandcertolizumab),rituximab,tocilizumab,abatacept,anakinraandcanakinumab.Biologicsgreatlyincreasetheriskforinfection.Screeningfortuberculosis,hepatitisBvirusandhepatitisCvirusisnecessarypriortoprescribingthesemedications.

Cartilage‐isthesmooth,toughmaterialwithaslipperysurfacewhichcoverstheboneends.Itactsasashockabsorberandallowssmoothmovementbetweenbones.

Corticosteroid‐Corticosteroids–thesemedicationsacutelyreducepaincausedbyinflammation.Corticosteroids(alsoknownasglucocorticoids)exerttheireffectsbydecreasingimmunecellactivationandfunctionandbyreducingthereleaseofinflammatorymediatorscalledcytokines.Examplesincludeprednisone,methylprednisoloneandtriamcinolone.Topical,intravenous,andinjectibleformulationsareavailable.Acutepainfularthritisisoftenmanagedbyinjectingcorticosteroidsdirectlyintotheaffectedjoint.Chroniccorticosteroiduseisassociatedwithnumeroussideeffects,includingsusceptibilitytoinfection,elevatedbloodsugar,cataracts,

glaucoma,osteoporosis,psychiatricdisturbance,weightgain,andfluidretention.Sideeffectsareproportionaltodoseanddurationoftreatment,soeveryeffortismadetousethesemedicationsjudiciously.

Connectivetissue‐Thistermlooselydescribesthetissueswhichholdthebodytogether.Connectivetissueispresentinallorgans,sotheterm“ConnectiveTissueDiseases”describesagroupofdiseaseswhichaffectawiderangeofdifferentbodysystems.

Chronic‐inamedicalsetting“chronic”referstoaconditionwhichpersistsforalongtime.

DMARDs‐DMARDsareprescribedtoquellinflammationthatcancausepermanentdamagetothejointsandorgans.Whenprescribedearlyinthediseaseprocess,DMARDscanoftenpreventirreparabledamagefromoccurring.

Fibromyalgia‐Fibromyalgiaisacommonhealthproblemthatcauseswidespreadpainandtenderness(sensitivetotouch).Thepainandtendernesstendtocomeandgo,andmoveaboutthebody.Mostoften,peoplewiththischronic(long‐term)illnessarefatigued(verytired)andhavesleepproblems.Itcanbehardtodiagnosefibromyalgia.

Juvenileidiopathicarthritis(JIA)‐Therearemanytermsusedtodescribeachildwithchronicarthritis.Theseincludejuvenilerheumatoidarthritis,juvenilechronicarthritisandjuvenileidiopathicarthritis.Severaltypesofarthritis,allinvolvingchronic(long‐term)jointinflammation,fallundertheJIAheading.Thisinflammationbeginsbeforepatientsreachtheageof16,andsymptomslastfrom6weeksto3monthstobecalledchronic.JIAmayinvolveoneormanyjoints,andcauseothersymptomssuchasfevers,rashand/oreyeinflammation.

Gout‐Goutisapainfulandpotentiallydisablingformofarthritisthathasbeenaroundsinceancienttimes.Thefirstsymptomsusuallyareintenseepisodesofpainfulswellinginsinglejoints,mostofteninthefeet,especiallythebigtoe.Theswollensitemayberedandwarm.Treatmentsareavailabletocontrolmostcasesofgout.However,diagnosinggoutcanbehard,andtreatmentplansoftenmustbetailoredforeachperson.

Immunesystem‐Theimmunesystemisthebody’sdefensesystemagainstinfectionandotherproblems.Itconsistsofanintegratednetworkofcellsandthechemicalstheyproducewhichconstantlypatrolthebodylookingforproblems.Whensuchaproblemisencounteredtheimmunesystemreactsbyproducinginflammation,theaimofwhichistoeliminatetheinfection(orotherabnormality)fromthebody.

Immunosuppressants‐thesemedicationsinhibittheactivationandfunctionofimmunecells,therebydiminishingauto‐immunity.Examplesincludemethotrexate,leflunomide,cyclophosphamide,azathioprine,mercaptopurine,mycophenolatemofetil,cyclosporineA,tacrolimusandsirolimus.Immunosuppressantsincreasesusceptibilitytoinfection.Theyrequireperiodiclaboratorymonitoringtoavoidliver,kidneyandbonemarrowtoxicity.

Inflammation‐Whentheimmunesystemreactstoinfectionorsomeotherstimulus,thewholeprocessiscalledinflammation.Thereisoftenpain,swelling,redness,andwarmthoftheaffectedpart.

‐itis‐attheendofawordmeansinflammationofsomethinge.g.tonsillitis

Joints‐aretheplaceswherebonesmeet.Theyallowflexibility.Therearedifferenttypesofjoint.In“synovial”jointsthesurfaceswherethebonesmeetarecoveredincartilageandthejointisenclosedinacapsulewhichislinedwithsynovium.

Ligaments‐aretough,fibrousbandswhichholdtwobonestogetherinajoint.

LymeDisease‐Lymediseaseisaninfectionspreadbythebiteofcertaintypesofticks.Ifcaughtandtreatedearly,theinfectionmostoftenclearsquickly.Ifnotfounduntilthelaterstagesofinfection,peoplewithLymediseasearemorelikelytostillhavesymptoms(whatyoufeel)aftertreatment.Theseincludefatigue(feelingverytired),poorsleep,andmuscleandjointpain.

Lupus‐Lupusisachronicdiseasethatcausesinflammation—painandswelling.Itcanaffecttheskin,joints,kidneys,lungs,nervoussystemandotherorgansofthebody.Mostpatientsfeelfatigueandhaverashes,arthritis(painfulandswollenjoints)andfever.

NSAIDS‐NSAIDsareusedtorelievepainandinflammationassociatedwitharthritisandrelatedconditions.Theyarealsohavemanyusesoutsideofarthritistreatment,suchasloweringfevers,easingtoothaches,andrelievingmuscleachesfromstrenuousphysicalactivityortheflu.

Osteoarthritis(OA)‐OAisafrequentlyslowlyprogressivejointdiseasetypicallyseeninmiddle‐agedtoelderlypeople.Thediseaseoccurswhenthejointcartilagebreaksdownoftenbecauseofmechanicalstressorbiochemicalalterations,causingtheboneunderneathtofail.OAcanoccurtogetherwithothertypesofarthritis,suchasgoutorrheumatoidarthritis.OAtendstoaffectcommonlyusedjointssuchasthehandsandspine,andtheweight‐bearingjointssuchasthehipsandknees.

PsoriaticArthritis(PsA)‐Psoriaticarthritisisatypeofarthriticinflammationthatoccursinabout15percentofpatientswhohaveaskinrashcalledpsoriasis.Thisparticulararthritiscanaffectanyjointinthebody,andsymptomsvaryfrompersontoperson.Researchhasshownthatpersistentinflammationfrompsoriaticarthritiscanleadtojointdamage.Fortunately,availabletreatmentsareeffectiveformostpeople.

Prognosis‐isthemedicaltermforoutlook,orapredictionofthelikelyoutcome.

RheumatoidArthritis‐RAisachronicdiseasethatcausespain,stiffness,swellingandlimitedmotionandfunctionofmanyjoints.WhileRAcanaffectanyjoint,thesmalljointsinthehandsandfeettendtobeinvolvedmostoften.Inflammationsometimescanaffectorgansaswell,forinstance,theeyesorlungs.

Rheumatism‐isamoregeneraltermusedinthepasttodescribeanypaininoraroundyourbones,musclesandjoints.

Synovium‐istheinnerlayerofthejointcapsule.Itproducessynovialfluidtolubricatethejoint.Thissynovialfluidisproducedbynormaljoints.Whenarthritisdevelopsinajointthesynovialmembranebecomesthickenedanditproduceslargeamountsoffluid.Thisiswhatcausestheswellingofthejoint.

Tendons‐arestrongfibrouscordsthatconnectmusclestobones.

THEPREVELANCEOFRHEUMATICDISEASES 

OVERALLPREVALENCEOFARTHRITISANDRHEUMATICDISEASESInanNovember2013issueofMorbidityandMortalityWeeklyReport,theCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionannounceddataestimatingthat52.5millionU.S.adultssufferfromarthritis‐equatingtoabout23percent1.

PREVALENCEAMONGSPECIFICRACIALANDETHNICGROUPSTheCDCalsoreportedthatarthritisaffectsanestimated3.1millionHispanicsintheUnitedStates.PublishedintheFeb.18issueofMorbidityandMortalityWeeklyReport,thestudypresentskeyfindingsamongsevenHispanicandLatinosubgroupsincludingPuertoRicans,Mexicans,Dominicans,andCubans.Highlightsincluded:

• PuertoRicansreportedthehighestage‐adjustedprevalenceofarthritis(21.8percent)andCubans/CubanAmericansthelowest(11.7percent)2

• AmongallsubgroupsofHispanicswitharthritis,atleast20percentofpeoplewitharthritisreportedoneormoreofthethreearthritis‐attributableeffectsandlimitationsincludingactivitylimitations,worklimitations,andseverejointpain2

• Formostsubgroups,arthritisprevalencewashighestamongpeople65yearsandolder,women,andpeoplewhowereobese2

• Overall,anestimated875,000Hispanicsages18‐64reportedarthritis‐attributableeffects2

• Overall,anestimated1.2millionHispanicsreportedseverejointpain2

ADDITIONALSTATISTICSTheNationalArthritisDataWorkgrouprevieweddatafromnationalandregionalsurveystoestimatenationalprevalenceratesofvariousrheumaticdiseasesbasedon2005U.S.Censusdata.

Theresultswerepublishedinanarticletitled,“EstimatesofthePrevalenceofArthritisandOtherRheumaticConditionsintheUnitedStates”intheJanuary2008issueofArthritis&Rheumatism.Partoneofthearticlewaspublishedonpages15–25andparttwowaspublishedonpages26–35.Asummaryofthearticleisasfollows:

• Rheumatoidarthritis–1.3millionU.S.adults3

• Juvenilearthritis–294,000peopleintheU.S.3

• Spondylarthritides–0.6to2.4millionU.S.adultsover153

• Systemiclupuserythematosus–161,000to322,000U.S.adults3

• Systemicsclerosis–49,000U.S.adults3

• Sjögren’ssyndrome–0.4to3.1millionadults3

• Clinicalosteoarthritis–27millionU.S.peopleage25andolder4

• Polymyalgiarheumatica–711,000peopleintheU.S.4

• Giantcellarteritis–228,000peopleintheU.S.4

• Gout–threemillionpeopleintheU.S.4

• Fibromyalgia–fivemillionpeopleintheU.S.4

• Carpaltunnelsyndrome–fourto10millionpeopleintheU.S.4

• Lowbackpain–59millionwithinthethreemonthspriortothestudy4

• Neckpain–30.1millionwithinthethreemonthspriortothestudy4

 

Online: 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5939.pdf 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6006a2.htm?s_cid=mm6006a2_w 

http://www.rheumatology.org/ACR/about/newsroom/prevalence/prevalence‐one.pdf 

http://www.rheumatology.org/ACR/about/newsroom/prevalence/prevalence‐two.pdf 

THESIMPLETASKS®CAMPAIGN

MillionsofAmericansarelivingwithpainful,debilitating,andcostlyrheumaticdiseases.Thesediseasescanmakeeventhesimplesttasks—suchaseating,brushingyourteethanddrivingacar—impossible.Thefirstweeksandmonthsfollowingtheonsetofrheumaticdiseasesymptomsareknownasthe"windowofopportunity,"anditiscrucialthatpatientsgetappropriatetreatmentinthattimeperiodtoavoidlastingcomplications.

Appropriatetreatmentforthesecomplexdiseasesshouldbeadministeredbyarheumatologist–theonlyspecialistspecificallytrainedinthediagnosisandtreatmentofrheumaticdiseases.Unlikeanyotherhealthcareproviders,rheumatologistsareequippedwiththetoolstodetectandtreatrheumaticdiseases.Rheumatologists'trainingandpracticeequipsthemtodiagnosepatientsquicklyandmaximizethe"windowofopportunity"–dramaticallyimprovingapatient'sprognosis.

InSeptember,2011,theAmericanCollegeofRheumatologylaunchedtheSimpleTaskscampaigntoeducatelawmakers,administrationofficials,thinktanks,advocacygroups,physiciansandphysiciangroupsontheimportanceofrheumatologyaswellastoincreasetheunderstandingoftheworkofrheumatologistsandlayafoundationofawarenessthatcreatessupportformorefavorablepublicpolicy.

Appropriateandtimelyreferrals,legislationthatensuresaccesstorheumatologists,supportingresearchandinitiativestogrowtheworkforce,andunderstandingtheimportanceofthepracticeofrheumatologyareallcrucialtoensuringthatmorepeoplewithrheumaticdiseasesaretreatedwithinthe"windowofopportunity."However,manyoftheinfluentialpeopleandgroupsresponsibleformakingsignificantdecisionsaboutthesehealthcareissuesarenotequippedwithenoughinformationaboutrheumaticdiseasesandrheumatologiststomakedecisionsthatpositivelyimpacttherheumatologycommunity.

Byincreasingthevisibilityofrheumaticdiseasesandofthespecialistswhotreatthem,itistheACR'shopethattheseinfluentialpeopleandgroupswillrecognizethevalueofrheumatology,understandtheissuesaffectingthiscommunity,andmakedecisionsthatsupportrheumatologyandthepatientsservedbytherheumatologyhealthcareteam.

JointheAmericanCollegeofRheumatologyandAmericansinfightingthedevastatingeffectsofrheumaticdiseases.Visitwww.simpletasks.orgtofindyourwindowofopportunitytohelp.

THELUPUSINITIATIVE

TheLupusInitiative®isaneducationalprogramledbytheACRthataimsincreasemedicalprofessionals’understandingandawarenessoflupus,adevastatingandlife‐threateningautoimmunedisease.TheLupusInitiativeisfundedinpartbytheU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesthroughitsOfficeofMinorityHealth.

TheLupusInitiative:providesmedicalprofessionals,educatorsandstudentswithcomprehensive,user‐friendlyeducationalresourcestohelpthemdiagnose,treatandmanagelupus,aswellasprovideculturally‐competentandpatient‐centeredcare

Materialsareavailableonlineandaredesignedtobeeasilyincorporatedintoamedicalprofessional’shecticscheduleoraprofessor’spackedmedicalcurriculumAllresourcesweredevelopedwithanationalconsortiumofpartnersthatincludeslupusexpertsfromarangeofmedicalspecialties,aswellasleadersinresearch,patientawarenessacademia,andthereductionofhealthdisparities

Availablematerialsinclude:

CME/CEcourses

Powerpointslidesformedicalschoollectures

Interactivecasestudies

Videoseries

Educationalpatientresources,availableinbothEnglishandSpanish

Whyisimportanttofocusonlupus?

Lupusisacomplex,chronicautoimmunediseasethataffectsupto1.5millionpeopleacrosstheUS.Itcausesthebody’simmunesystemtoformantibodiesthatcanattackvirtuallyanyorganortissueinthebody.Itdisproportionallyaffectswomenandpeopleofcolor,mostoftenduringprimechildbearingyears.PeopleofcolorhavemortalityratestwotothreetimeshigherthanCaucasians

Thosemostlikelytobesickarealsomorelikelytobeuninsuredandlesslikelytohaveaccesstothecaretheyneed

Lupusisveryhardtodiagnosebecauseitcaninvolvearangeofsymptomsthatarecommontomultiplediseases.AccordingtoasurveyofLupusFoundationofAmericamembers,morethanhalfoflupuspatientssufferedforatleastfouryearsandsawthreeormorephysiciansbeforeobtainingacorrectdiagnosis

Themoreamedicalprofessionalknowsaboutlupus,themorelikelyheorsheistoidentifyitssignsandsymptomsearlyandaccuratelytodiagnosethediseaseorreferapatienttoaspecialist

TheLupusInitiativeisdevotedtoensuringtheearlyandaccuratediagnosis,effectivetreatmentandmanagementofpatientswithlupus,regardlessofage,gender,race,ethnicityorsocioeconomicstatus,sothattheymayleadhappy,healthyandproductivelives.

TolearnmoreaboutTheLupusInitiative,visitwww.thelupusinitiative.org