A new study has revealed that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affected 17.9 million people worldwide in 2021, marking a 13.2% increase in cases since 1990. The researchers also found that the disease is being diagnosed in younger individuals across geographically diverse regions.
Published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the study shows that the population explosion has led to a surge in rheumatoid arthritis cases in countries like India, Pakistan and Spain. In countries like Thailand, China, and Poland, an ageing population drives the burden of this autoimmune disease.
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The research, part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) initiative led by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, analysed data from over 200 countries and territories.
The report also projects that low-middle sociodemographic index (SDI) regions may see a continued rise in rheumatoid arthritis cases by 2040, driven by ageing and population expansion. Conversely, some high-SDI countries could experience a decline, especially if preventive measures are taken.
In China, for instance, the study estimates that smoking control measures could reduce rheumatoid arthritis-related deaths by 16.8% and lower overall disease burden by over 20%. Japan, meanwhile, showed a 22% decline in rheumatoid arthritis burden, attributed to early diagnosis and an anti-inflammatory diet.
“Previous studies offered a broad global picture, but our findings provide more detailed, localised insights into the shifting burden of rheumatoid arthritis,” said lead author Queran Lin from Imperial College London. The authors called for targeted, localised public health strategies to address growing disparities, particularly in low-income regions.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the body’s defence system wrongly targets healthy joint tissues, causing chronic inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
