JEDDAH — A two-year study has shown a growing, though delayed, trend to refer rheumatoid arthritis patients to qualified rheumatologists, according to experts in the field. The study, which covered the cities of Makkah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Abha, revealed that a significant percentage of rheumatoid arthritis patients who are likely to have active disease remain reluctant to seek medical advice for at least six months and when they finally seek medical advice, they approach orthopedic surgeons, leading to a total transfer delay of 30 months to reach rheumatologists. Dr. Hani Mohammed Al-Moallim, consultant rheumatologist and associate professor at Umm Al-Qura University Medical College and Supervisor of Alzaidi Chair for Research in Rheumatic Diseases, emphasized that different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases have different signs and symptoms. He was speaking on the occasion of releasing the first Saudi scientific reference in the field of diseases of the joints and rheumatism, titled "Skills in Rheumatology ". Al-Moallim pointed out that in general people who have arthritis feel pain and stiffness in one or more joints, and this may be accompanied by tenderness, warmth, redness in a joint, and/or difficulty using or moving a joint normally. Al-Moallim said: "While each case of rheumatic disease differs from another in some small but important ways, they share one important characteristic: If a patient get diagnosed early in the disease, the doctor can devise a treatment plan that will help preserve the patient's mobility and reduce pain. So when there is a suspicion patients have a rheumatic disease, they must immediately seek a medical advice from rheumatology consultants". Studies in arthritis and rheumatology show that rheumatic diseases are considered the biggest reason for driving increasing numbers of patients to clinics after upper respiratory tract infections. Studies have shown that 1-2 percent of people suffer from rheumatoid arthritis globally, and 90 percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives and nine women compared to one man suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus, which is one of the rheumatic diseases as well. Al-Moallim said: "While diagnosing patients with rheumatic diseases many facets are to be considered, but early and rapid diagnosis is an important prerequisite for correct and straight-forward management of the patients. This has led us to issue Skills in Rheumatology, the first Saudi scientific reference in the field with the participation of 51 rheumatologists." The book is considered one of the easiest and simplest texts on arthritis and related diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other rheumatic conditions. It offers medical students and physicians a practical description of the current science, diagnosis, clinical consequences and principles of management. Students, trainees and practicing clinicians all need a standard textbook that can help in understanding and treating rheumatic disease. The 22 chapters, brought together in this book, contain international recommendations in the treatment of rheumatic diseases needed to keep doctors up to date in their daily practice.
