The plight and light of treating rheumatoid arthritis in China

Witnessing two rural middle-aged female patients with rheumatoid arthritis in wheelchairs at our rheumatology clinic on the same day, we feel obliged to write this article (figure). Over the past few decades, tremendous progress has been made in the management of rheumatoid arthritis with early intervention, adoption of a treat-to-target strategy, and advances in available therapies. In an era of modern rheumatology, the natural end of rheumatoid arthritis, disability, is no longer commonplace in most countries. However, disability related to rheumatoid arthritis still occurs unceasingly in China today (with prevalence as high as 50%), 1 Li ZG A new look at rheumatology in China—opportunities and challenges. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2015; 11: 313-317 Crossref PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar and rheumatoid arthritis remains the leading cause of disability in women in China. 2 Chen H Wang H Crimmins EM et al. The contributions of diseases to disability burden among the elderly population in China. J Aging Health. 2014; 26: 261-282 Crossref PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar