Significance of rheumatic diseases for individuals and society.
Vienna (OTS) – Almost 300,000 people in Austria suffer from an inflammatory rheumatic disease. “Rheumatism is an umbrella term for over 400 different diseases, which can have many underlying causes,” explained Assoc. Prof. Dr. Helga Lechner-Radner from the Department of Rheumatology at the Vienna General Hospital and Head of the Science Section of the ÖGR at a press conference for this specialist society. Rheumatism is not just a joint disease of older people, but an inflammatory systemic disease that can occur at any age. Depending on the type, it can affect various vital organs such as the heart, lungs or kidneys and can also destroy them irreversibly. Furthermore, this chronic inflammatory process can lead to far-reaching consequences such as an increased risk of heart attacks (up to 63% higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in the comparison population), strokes or cancer. „Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are therefore essential to reduce the burden on the individual patient as well as on society in general
“so Lechner-Radner.
Rheumatism can affect people in the middle of life
For those affected, rheumatic diseases are associated with pain, reduced quality of life, disability, inability to work or loss of income. Ariane Schrauf impressively described how the diagnosis of “diffuse systemic scleroderma”, a rare rheumatic disease, has changed her everyday life as a working single mother and what restrictions and hurdles this causes in dealing with everyday situations. Her path to the correct diagnosis (then 41 years old) and initiation of therapy was full of hurdles and very stressful both physically and mentally, as the disease is currently not curable. However, she responded very well to the therapy, which led to a rapid and significant improvement in her quality of life. In addition, the Burgenland resident didn’t let her illness get her down: “I wanted to actively do something about my movement restrictions, so I got into cycling.” For her, cycling is an important element of self-determination and, alongside therapeutic exercises, has become a valuable addition to her medication treatment . „Cycling means freedom to me – it gives me a break from the illness
“, said Schrauf.
Austria is a leader in rheumatism research in Europe
„In the last two decades, an extraordinary leap in knowledge has been made in rheumatology. Austrian scientists play a key role in the research milestones
“, emphasized Univ.-Prof. Dr. Daniel Aletaha, Head of the Clinical Department of Rheumatology at the Vienna General Hospital and President of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR). For example, groundbreaking and internationally applied guidelines on the diagnosis and management of certain rheumatic diseases come from Austria. Austrian work on early detection and timely treatment can also help identify and treat illnesses more quickly, thereby averting irreversible damage to patients. “We can be very proud of that,” says Aletaha. As an expression of this international competence, Austria is providing the President of EULAR for the second time in history and is allowed to hold the annual congress in Vienna again after almost 20 years.
Future of rheumatology: Ensuring good rheumatological care in the future
Rheumatic diseases and their “unmet needs” are increasingly the focus of European health policy. “The loss of productivity due to illness is enormous: a third of all patients with rheumatoid arthritis are no longer working after 5 years,” said Priv.-Doz.in Dr. Valerie Nell-Duxneuner, President of the ÖGR. Rheumatic diseases are the most common reason for sick leave in Austria and the second most common reason for early retirement. “The care in Austria is provided at a very high professional level. We have internationally renowned scientists, the leap in research allows for a wide range of treatments and state-of-the-art therapies,” explained Nell-Duxneuner. In addition, Austria has a solidarity system – everyone affected has access to these therapies – regardless of age, place of residence or social status. In order for this to continue to be guaranteed, there will need to be enough rheumatologists in the future, both in hospitals and in private practices.
There are currently only just under 300 rheumatologists available for the approximately 300,000 rheumatism patients. A survey by ÖGR also shows that 40% of rheumatism specialists will retire in the next 10 years. This should definitely be taken into account when planning requirements. “We have to give rheumatology more space in university teaching. Only in this way can the scientific achievements in diagnostics and therapy already mentioned be brought into everyday clinical practice and thus benefit patients in Austria,” says Nell-Duxneuner.
Thanks to excellent Austrian research, a large portfolio of highly effective medications is available. Above all, the recognition of the need for early use of therapy is essential for the progression of the disease. „For early detection and early therapy, more awareness of rheumatological diseases and enough and well-trained rheumatologists are needed
“, emphasized Nell-Duxneuner.
ÖGR’s three-point plan
For the early detection and complex therapy of rheumatological diseases, we will continue to need enough and well-trained rheumatologists in the future! To achieve this, the ÖGR has formulated a three-point plan:
- Promoting young talent and science: The ÖGR has been very successful in organizing its own summer schools and training courses to get young colleagues interested in rheumatology and has given young rheumatologists their own voice on the board (JÖGR). Nonetheless:
* Rheumatology should play a larger role in university education.
* In order to conduct independent research at the highest level, the provision of appropriate financial resources is essential. - Adequate demand planning and correct deployment of rheumatologists in care: Medicine is becoming more outpatient and hospital stays for rheumatological diseases are decreasing. The collaboration and exchange between hospitals and private practice areas must become more intensive:
* Flexible contract models would be important in order to make working in hospitals as well as in private practices more attractive.
* In the private practice area, a uniform catalog of services across Austria is necessary so that rheumatological services are represented everywhere.
* Collaboration like in group practices or centers should be encouraged: teamwork and exchange with colleagues is crucial in a complex field like rheumatology. - Rheumatism specialist assistance: Health professionals with specialized rheumatology training can make a significant contribution to the interdisciplinary care of those affected.
* The rheumatism specialist assistance is used to relieve the specialists’ specialist burden when caring for patients. Last but not least, patient organizations urgently call for the establishment of rheumatism specialist assistance.
The provides a current overview of the care situation, science and patient involvement as well as facts and background information Austrian Rheumatology Report 2023 the ÖGR.
More pictures in the APA-Fotogalerie.
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