Despite the lack of definitive statistics for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) for the Middle East region, the international incidence is around 1% for adult population for RA alone. However, as we know that there are more than 120 different rheumatic conditions, this indicates that there are tens of thousands of patients in the UAE alone.

Treatment for this type of condition often involves invasive procedures but advances in diagnostic tools means that rheumatologists are able to detect and diagnose the disease with higher accuracy and minimal discomfort to the patient.

Dr Waleed AlShehhi, who is the Medical Director at Al Biraa Arthritis Centre in Dubai, was speaking this morning about the role of diagnostic ultrasound in musculoskeletal disorders at the Abu Dhabi Bone & Joint Conference which took place at the 5th Abu Dhabi Medical Congress (ADMC) which concludes today.

“Musculoskeletal ultrasound is rapidly emerging as valuable diagnostic tool for rheumatologists,” says Dr AlShehhi. “The ultrasound machine shows the disease in more detail and can obtain specific images of soft tissue to be examined such as erosions seen in rheumatoid and inflammatory arthritis. The ultrasound can be compared to a stethoscope used by doctors.”

Genetic predisposition and environmental factors are often under debate when it comes to the causes of RA in the region. As Dr AlShehhi explains, cold weather can actually worsen the symptoms of RA.

“But in saying that, weather plays no role in the causation of the immune mediated illness. However, Vitamin D deficiency leads to osteoporosis, weak muscles and autoimmune diseases, and being in an air conditioned environment can worsen problems of vitamin D deficiency,” he adds.

Increasing rates of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome are risk factors for both rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease and it can cause, and be caused by, rheumatoid arthritis. Obesity can result from some of the treatments doctors give to rheumatoid arthritis patients and of course, obesity can result from the relative inactivity due to joint damage.

The year’s exhibition at the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress features 150 companies from 30 countries across the globe showcasing a range of new technology used in the Primary Healthcare, Emergency, Patient Safety, Rehabilitation, Pharma and Nursing sectors.

Attending the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress for the first time, Sláinte Healthcare have been showcasing their newest technology; ‘Formsure’. The Formsure platform is a solution which links your patient data to customisable, mobile, electronic replicas of your paper chart documents.

“Despite advances in systems, the modern healthcare workplace still involves multiple forms and multiple signatures, from admissions and patient consent, to authority for medication. Our Formsure platform coordinates the capture and flow of such forms across different departments enabling the clinical and administrative sides of the organisation to make decisions faster, using information they were never previously able to access,” comments Andrew Murphy, CEO and founder, Sláinte Healthcare.

Abu Dhabi Medical Congress concludes today. For information about ADMC, please visit www.abudhabimed.com or call +971 3365161.

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