A 55-Year-Old Woman With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Article Abstract:
The diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is discussed. RA is an inflammatory disorder that causes joint deformity. The joints most commonly affected are the small joints of the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, and feet. The diagnostic criteria include morning joint stiffness, objective evidence of joint inflammation, rheumatoid nodules, rheumatoid factor in the blood, and X-ray evidence of joint changes. Early diagnosis and intervention may prevent irreversible joint damage. Analgesics, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and drugs called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are often used. DMARDS include parenteral gold, methotrexate, leflunomide, etanercept, and infliximab.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 2000
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Effects of Writing About Stressful Experiences on Symptom Reduction in Patients With Asthma or Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Trial
Article Abstract:
Keeping a journal about their disease and how it affects them may lead to many health benefits for some patients. Researchers randomly assigned 58 asthma patients and 49 rheumatoid arthritis patients to write about stressful events in their life or to write about emotionally neutral topics. All patients continued to receive the standard treatment for their condition. Forty-seven percent of the patients who wrote about stressful events performed significantly better on tests of function four months later, compared to 24% of those who wrote about emotionally neutral topics.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1999
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Health care utilization and outcomes among persons with rheumatoid arthritis in fee-for-service and prepaid group practice settings
Article Abstract:
The switch from a fee-for-service medical plan to an HMO does not appear to compromise the care that people with chronic diseases receive. Researchers followed 1,025 people with rheumatoid arthritis for up to 11 years. Twenty-two percent were covered by a type of HMO called a prepaid group practice. There was no difference in the utilization of healthcare resources between the two groups. The groups also did not differ on measures of health. HMOs have an incentive to reduce costs, but it appears they achieve this by spending less on healthy people in the plan.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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