“On the one hand, in richer countries, the best rheumatoid arthritis care is more accessible and patients may have over-optimistic expectations of the treatment,” Putrik said. “On the other hand . . . patients may also experience higher pressure in terms of performing many social roles (family, work, social life) and therefore feel less satisfied with their health state.”
“The finding that certain people interpret their disease differently from others is not in itself surprising,” said Dr. Joshua Baker, a rheumatologist at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. “What is really fascinating is that the wealth of the place you live can impact that interpretation.”
Baker, who wasn’t involved in the study, said that more research is needed to see whether patients’ varying perspectives affect the quality and cost of RA care across the world.
Putrik said the results “could be used in communication with patients to emphasize the importance of lifestyles and potential of adapting the life to the physical abilities.”
