Improvements must be made in the time it takes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Europe to be treated, researchers said today.
The three months after symptoms begin is an "important therapeutic window", say researchers led by Dr Karim Raza of Birmingham University, UK. They measured the extent and causes of delay for 482 patients seen in 2009-10, living in eight European countries.
The team report in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases that the median (midpoint) delay from first symptom to assessment by a rheumatologist was 24 weeks. Between eight and 42 per cent of patients were seen within 12 weeks, depending on the country.
Important differences existed in the delays at individual centres, say the researchers. UK patients waited a median of 12 weeks before seeing their GP. This was much longer than patients in Berlin and Vienna (two weeks), but faster than Heraklion in Greece (22 weeks).
It took a median of one to 12 weeks for the initial health professional to see the patient, two to 12 weeks for referral to a rheumatologist, then one to 11 weeks to get an appointment with the rheumatologist.
The authors write: "This research highlights the contribution of patients, professionals and health systems to treatment delay.
"Across Europe, delays in the assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis by rheumatologists are unacceptably long. As highlighted in a recent report from the UK National Audit Office, tackling this should represent a priority for strategies to improve patient outcomes," they conclude.
The National Audit Office report estimated that millions of pounds would be saved, and quality of life for patients would be improved, by doubling the current ten to 20 per cent of patients given disease modifying drugs within three months.
Delays in assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: variations across Europe. Raza, K. et al.The Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, published online August 4, 2011.
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