NR 503 Week 6 Assignment; Epidemiological Analysis; Chronic Health Problem - Evaluation of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Spring 2022 ,Chamberlain College Of Nursing

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Running head: EVALUATION OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Evaluation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Lurissa Osmialowski Chamberlain College of Nursing NR503: Population Health Epidemiology and Statistical Princip... les July 2019 EVALUATION OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Evaluation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that is characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane in the joints (Aletaha, & Smolen, 2018). It is common disease worldwide and continues to progressively provide optimal outcomes as a better understanding of the disease process is being discovered. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the significance of RA, current surveillance methods, descriptive epidemiology analysis, screening and diagnosis, and a plan of action to address the prevalence of RA. Background and Significance of RA The Mayo Clinic (2019) defines arthritis as the inflammation and tenderness involving one or more than one of the joints in the body. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) specifically affects the synovial membrane of the joint causing inflammation and discomfort due the destruction of the articular cartilage and articular bone (Aletaha & Smolen, 2018). RA is caused by an autoimmune response where the body’s immune system is known to attack its own healthy cells (CDC, 2019). RA commonly affects the joints in the hands, wrists, and knees, but is not limited to these areas. The signs and symptoms of RA include flare-ups and remission periods. During a flare, a person might experience rheumatoid nodules, pain or achiness of the joints, stiffness in the joints, tenderness and swelling in one or more joints, weight loss, fever, tiredness, or weakness throughout the body, as well as cardiovascular disease (CDC, 2019). There are an estimated number of about 54.4 million adults, equal to or over the age of 18, which have been diagnosed with arthritis in the United States (Guglielmo et al. 2019). The most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report written in May of 2019 2 EVALUATION OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS discussed the state prevalence of arthritis for the year 2017. The median state prevalence for the U.S. in 2017 of adults with arthritis was 22.8% (Gugleilmo et al., 2019). The highest prevalence of arthritis presented in the Appalachian region and the lowest prevalence presented in the Mississippi Valley regions. The Appalachian region included all of West Virginia, and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Age-standardized prevalence increased with age, ranging from 8.1% for those aged 18-44, to 50.4% for those aged greater than or equal to 65 y [Show More]

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