Young people with arthritis choose treatments that “make life normal”

Young people with arthritis make treatment decisions based on how the treatment will affect their appearance, social life and physical and mental well-being, says new research. The small study, which will be presented at the British Society for Rheumatology’s conference Rheumatology 2014, suggests that young people are concerned about whether treatments could threaten their day-to-day life.

Inflammatory arthritis can need aggressive treatment including the use of biologic therapies. For young people, making these crucial treatment decisions comes at a difficult time in their personal and disease development. It is vital that the right decision is made because these decisions can have major consequences.

The research, which included interviews with 25 people aged 16-25 years with inflammatory arthritis, suggests that young people judge biologic treatments on their potential to help them to lead a normal life. While they understand the potential long-term risks of these therapies, they feel bound to accept these risks in order to improve life for the foreseeable future.

The research also suggests that the emotional, social and vocational consequences of side effects of treatment can be central for young people. Generally, patients value treatments that help them to live a normal life. However perceptions of a “normal life” are different depending on age, condition and their treatment.

The researchers conclude that “young people need support and encouragement to explain how treatment helps or hinders normal life, so regimens can be clarified and/or adjusted in order not to be unnecessarily restrictive.”

“People with inflammatory rheumatic diseases need as much information on drug regimens as possible so that they can make informed decisions on the best strategies, weighing up the pros and cons, and short and long term considerations,” says Chris Deighton, President of the British Society for Rheumatology. “This applies to all patients, but especially young people with their whole lives in front of them.”