Manchester, United Kingdom – A study conducted by the University of Manchester indicated that the majority of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis fail to purchase expensive and take prescribed medication.
The study involved 286 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who suffered from the condition for at least 7 years. The participants also attended 60 Rheumatology clinics and urgent care clinics across the United Kingdom (UK) from 2008 to 2012.
The study revealed that 27% of the participants failed to adhere to anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) therapies within the first six months of their condition. However, it was not determined whether the non-adherence of the patients was accidental or deliberate.
People with the condition need an urgent care, considering the joint inflammation, and painful immobility in wrists, ankles, feet, fingers that the condition could cause. In the UK alone, more than 400,000 are affected by rheumatoid arthritis.
The prescribed medication for the disease commonly referred to as anti-TNF therapies can help in blocking the TNF pathway within the inflammatory process. However, the medication costs approximately between $13,300 and $20,000 per patient each year. The anti-TNF therapies are considered as the patients’ urgent care near me relief of their condition.
Patients should adhere to the medication prescribed to them, taking the dose upon the day of agreement with their health professional. The study pointed out that failure to adhere could worsen the patient’s condition.
Doctor Kimme Hyrich, Manchester Royal Infirmary honorary consultant said failure to take the prescribed medication could result to significant effects, determining whether patients will respond to the therapy or otherwise. Their health conditions are more likely to deteriorate quickly due to non-adherence, he added. A frequent visit to an urgent care clinic may likewise be necessary if the condition is not addressed properly.
Further study will be conducted in order to identify the main reasons of patients of their non-adherence to prescriptions. The findings of the University of Manchesterwere already published in the journal Rheumatology.
Professor Alan Silman, Arthritis Research medical director emphasized the contributions of anti-TNF to patients, transforming the lives of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and other related disorders.
The professor added that the considerable number of patients who misses their doses is worrisome. But, knowing the effectiveness of the prescription could encourage them in taking these expensive medications. The non-adherence to the prescribed medication would result to the reduced effectiveness of anti-TNF therapies.
