RA: Join the Fight Encourages People with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Test Their Knowledge in Recognition of World Arthritis Day

- New Educational Tools Provide Patients with Information to Collaborate with Their Physicians for Better Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

NORTH CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of World Arthritis Day on October 12, RA: Join the Fight is encouraging people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to take the "Do You Know Your RA Facts?" assessment to test their knowledge of RA and learn if they can be doing more to manage their condition. After taking the assessment, people with RA can download educational information and new tools at www.RAJointheFight.com to help talk with their physician. Supported by AbbVie, RA: Join the Fight is a global initiative dedicated to increasing awareness and education about RA.

"We conducted a survey that demonstrated a lack of RA knowledge among patients across the globe. These knowledge gaps can lead to a lack of effective communication between people with RA and their physicians," said RA: Join the Fight advisory committee member Janice Mooney, Senior Lecturer, Primary Care, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England. "The new tools we're providing help empower patients to speak out about their RA with their family, friends and physicians."

Included among the new tools and resources is an interactive discussion guide to help people with RA develop a management plan with their physicians, as well as information for caregivers and loved ones of people with RA. All of the new educational resources can now be found at www.RAJointheFight.com, and were developed as a result of needs identified in the largest multinational survey of people with RA to date. Commissioned by RA: Join the Fight and AbbVie, the survey revealed the need for greater awareness of RA and resources that may help people better manage their condition.

Underscoring the purpose of the new quiz, tools and resources, this disease education initiative is also launching the RA: Join the Fight Photo Project, calling on the international RA community to submit images illustrating the physical and emotional impact of living with RA. People who submit photos can encourage their friends and family to support them by visiting www.RAJointheFight.com and voting for their photo.

"As part of our holistic commitment to impacting rheumatology care, AbbVie has worked in conjunction with international leaders in rheumatology to establish RA: Join the Fight," said Isidro Villanueva, M.D., Ph.D., group therapeutic area lead, Medical Affairs, Immunology, at AbbVie. "We're excited to launch these new initiatives to bring additional awareness to RA and more support to those impacted by RA worldwide."

For more information about the campaign, please visit www.RAJointheFight.com.

About Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly attacks healthy joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and over time, loss of function in the joints, as well as overall fatigue and weakness.^1,2 RA may also cause premature mortality, disability and compromised quality of life.³ The first symptoms of RA typically appear in a person's 40s or 50s, although RA can occur at any age.² Typically, RA affects women more than men, with three times as many women suffering from the disease.⁴

About RA: Join the Fight
RA: Join the Fight, an AbbVie global initiative, aims to be a global source of information to help educate people living with RA and those who support them. RA: Join the Fight, endorsed by more than 40 advocacy organizations from around the world, is a collaborative global effort, with expert partners – people with RA, physicians, nurses and researchers – involved in the development and implementation of the initiative's resources and programs.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. AbbVie employs approximately 25,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

References:

1. Aletaha D, et al. "2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria: An American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Collaborative Initiative." Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 69 (2010): 1580-1588.
2. Tehlirian C. "Rheumatoid Arthritis." Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases 6 (2008): 114-121.
3. Kvien, T.K. (2004) "Epidemiology and Burden of Illness of Rheumatoid Arthritis." PharmacoEconomics. 22(1): 1-12.
4. Rupp, I., Boshuizen, H. C., Jacobi, C. E., Dinant, H. J. and van den Bos, G. A. M. "Impact of fatigue on health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis." Arthritis & Rheumatism 51.4 (2004): 578-585.