ROME, June 23 (UPI) -- Rheumatoid arthritis remission provides superior outcomes across socioeconomic categories such as productivity and quality of life, researchers in Austria say.
Lead author Dr. Helga Radner of the Medical University Vienna and colleagues found significant improvements in quality of life in those in remission vs. those with low disease activity. Overall activity impairment and physical disability were greater in those with low disease activity, the study said.
"The findings reveal that remission is even superior to an almost perfect disease activity state, namely low-disease activity, therefore our major task in treating rheumatoid arthritis patients should be its achievement and maintenance," Radner said in a statement.
Radner and colleagues said the study involved 356 patients, 34 who were in remission and 66 with low disease activity.
The findings were reported in Rome at the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism.
