Burden of arthritis in India: a nagging concern as per SRL

Chandigarh, October 20, 2015: SRL Diagnostics, India's leading global diagnostic chain recently released a three year long pan India data mining survey (2012 – 2014) on rheumatoid arthritis. The data by SRL showed that out of the total samples tested, 21.74% showed presence of Anti-nuclear antibodies which means that their immune system may be predisposed to cause inflammation against their own body tissues. As per arthritis-India, arthritis affects approximately 15% people i.e. 18 crore people in India in some form or the other. Of these around 1 crore suffers from rheumatoid arthritis alone. This prevalence is higher than many well-known diseases such as diabetes

Worldwide around 10-12% of people have OA, around 1% RA, around 1% gout, and the other subtypes of OAcomprise another 2%. RA is more prevalent in females than in males, but in case of gout it is the other way round. According to WHO, the prevalence of rrheumatoid arthritis varies between 0.3% and 1% and is more common in women and in developed countries. Also, Within 10 years of onset, at least 50% of patients in developed countries are unable to perform a full-time job. It tends to strike during the most productive years of adulthood, between the ages of 20 and 40, and is a chronic disabling condition often causing pain and deformity.



As per the analysis by SRL, out of 9855 tests performed for arthritis pan India over the last 3years,it was observed that 10.14% of the samples showed positivity forRheumatoid Arthritis (RA) whereas the remaining 89.86% samples were negative for Rheumatoid Factor (RF), signifying at least 1 in ten cases might have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).Furthermore, high uric acid levels were reported in 11.92% of the total samples. Also elevated CRP levels were reported in a notably greater proportion of the total samples tested (43.4%) signifying an underlying ongoing inflammationin the patients.

Dr Leena Chatterjee, Director - Fortis SRL Labs & SRL Strategic Initiatives says, "Osteoarthtis can easily be diagnosed by clinicians by using advanced radiology tests. However, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has been a puzzling disease and since decades doctors could do little about it. But now due to newerdiagnostic tests and advances in treatment in preventing joint damage, it has become highly manageable. The average age of onset of RA is 40 to 60, yet it can strike any time, from kids to 80-year olds"

Autoimmune arthritis such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is common in India, as per this analysis conducted by SRL Diagnostics. The foremost clinical diagnostics company in the country found that at least 10% of the patient samples they received for arthritis related testing, might have had RA.Typically, arthritis as a disease is of three main clinical types called osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gout. Of these, OA is the more common and predominant type. OA is more of a mechanical damage that occurs at the level of the joint due to injury to the joint over a period of months of years, the joint cartilage undergoes attrition. The knee and the hip joint are the most commonly affected joints in OA. On the other Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease wherein an individual's own immune system attacks the joint cartilages and membranes. The third most common type is Gout. It is a painful condition that occurs when the body cannot eliminate a natural substance called uric acid. The excess uric acid forms needle-like crystals in the joints that cause intense inflammation. Gout most often affects the big toe, knee, and wrist joints.



About SRL Diagnostics

SRL Diagnostics is one of the leading chains of Clinical Diagnostic Centers in India. The diagnostic centre was introduced with the vision of providing accurate solutions to the diagnosis of various diseases, with ethical standards and care as it core values. SRL Diagnostics has *266 networking laboratories, including *11 Reference Labs, 4 Centers of Excellence, *17 radiology/imaging centers, and a footprint spanning over 6500 collection points. The company has large labs in Dubai, Sri Lanka and Nepal, and also about 50 collection points in various countries outside India.

SRL Diagnostics is the veritable pioneer of medical diagnostics in India. Established in 1995, the diagnostic centre has been imbued with a mission to deliver Gold Standard Diagnostic services, both in the field of Laboratory Medicine and Radiology including hi-end Imaging services.

SRL has the most Accredited Lab Network in India comprising of 31 NABL accredited labs and 4 CAP accredited labs. SRL continues to revolutionize diagnostic services in India by ushering in the most specialized technologies, and innovative services.

Its Research and Innovation division is ISO certified and was the first lab in the Private Sector which was recognized by the Government of India's Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. SRL's wide range of tests provides quality diagnostic, prognostic and monitoring services to other path labs, hospitals and patients. It also provides services of testing samples for the Multinational and Indian Pharmaceutical companies/ CROs undertaking Phase III/ IV Clinical Trial work, thereby supporting their international regulatory submissions.

Originally Source : Perfect Relations