Term: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2006-10-20

Definition:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and painful inflammatory condition, which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles (Lix L, et al., 2006).

Related concepts 

• Arthritis - Measuring Prevalence
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - Defining in Administrative Data

Related terms 

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Arthritis
• Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID)
• Osteoarthritis (OA)

References 

• Lix L, Yogendran M, Burchill C, Metge C, McKeen N, Moore D, Bond R. Defining and Validating Chronic Diseases: An Administrative Data Approach. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] (View)

Term used in 

• Chartier M, Finlayson G, Prior H, McGowan K, Chen H, de Rocquigny J, Walld R, Gousseau M. Health and Healthcare Utilization of Francophones in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Hitchon CA, Khan S, Elias B, Lix LM, Peschken CA. Prevalence and Incidence of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Canadian First Nations and Non-First Nations People: A Population-Based Study. J Clin Rheumatol 2020;26(5):169-175. [Abstract] (View)
• Marrie RA, Walld R, Bolton JM, Sareen J, Walker R, Patten SB, Singer A, Lix LM, Hitchon CA, El-Gabalawy R, Katz A, Fisk JD, Bernstein CN. Rising incidence of psychiatric disorders before diagnosis of immune-mediated inflammatory disease. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 2017; Epub ahead of print. [Abstract] (View)
• Raymond C, Metge C, Alessi-Severini S, Dahl M, Schultz J, Guenette W. Pharmaceutical Use in Manitoba: Opportunities to Optimize Use. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] (View)