People who are developing rheumatoid arthritis need timely referrals to specialists, campaigners said today.
This week has been named Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week and campaigners are seeking to highlight the "simple tasks" that become difficult for people with the condition.
The British Society of Rheumatology said three quarters of those affected with the disease are of working age. Almost 700,000 people have the disease.
The society says there is a "window of opportunity" when the disease emerges – and says policies should ensure patients have access to rheumatologists.
President Professor Simon Bowman said: “The Simple Tasks campaign is to emphasise that these diseases are significant, that they do lead to major effects on real people’s lives and they are common and important.
"I hope that by highlighting rheumatoid arthritis this week people will begin to understand how this disease can have significant effects on young people in the prime of their lives.”
* The European conference on rheumatism was told that the healthcare costs of treating the condition are about 50% greater than other diseases.
The figure was reported at the conference of the European League Against Rheumatism.
Researcher Dr Anjte Van Der Zee-Neuen of Maastricht University, The Netherlands, said: "It is clear that the cost of delivering care to those patients with musculoskeletal conditions is considerably higher than those with other diseases.
"In these economically challenging times, this research highlights a clear area of focus for policy makers where prioritisation of musculoskeletal disorders could result in longer term cost efficiencies."
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