Two days of free screening for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: these are the initiatives implemented by the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico on the occasion of World Rheumatic Diseases Day (12 October), with unconditional support by AbbVie. An opportunity not only to help people suffering from these pathologies achieve remission of the disease, but also to remember the importance of therapeutic adherence, to ensure a better quality of life. The appointment is for Saturday 19th and Saturday 26th October in via Álvaro del Portillo 200 in Rome.
Consultations are by reservation only and until all available places are filled. To book an appointment you can contact the number 345 7686815 from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 16.00.
“Over 5 million people in Italy suffer from rheumatic diseases – explained Luca Navarini, doctor of the Immunorheumatology Unit of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, who added – they are pathologies that are difficult to diagnose and have a strong impact on the quality of life”.
Rheumatic diseases have a heavy impact on the costs of social and health care and represent a serious threat to the country’s overall economy: in total, spending on chronic rheumatic diseases in Italy exceeds 4 billion euros a year, of which almost half – 1 billion 739 million – are represented by the loss of productivity for approximately 287 thousand sick workers.
“Furthermore, these pathologies are diagnosed very late with respect to their onset. This – explained Navarini – entails high costs for the entire complex social-welfare system, but above all contributes to an exponential worsening of the patient’s quality of life, since a late diagnosis leads to a possible reduced response to therapies and the accumulation of damage irreversible”.
Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis are chronic inflammatory diseases that cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of joint function. In the most serious cases, they can cause significant disability problems and lead to extra-articular manifestations affecting the mucous membranes and various organs, including the eyes, skin, gastrointestinal system and lungs. For this type of pathology, therefore, early diagnosis is essential in order to ensure people have the correct type of treatment to slow down the symptoms and stop their progression.
