2 articles
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting approximately 0.5% of the global population. It represents a major cause of disability, reduced quality of life, and healthcare burden. The prevalence of RA is rising, especially in older populations and in low-income regions.
A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar for articles published between 2000 and 2025. Search terms included “rheumatoid arthritis”, “epidemiology”, “risk factors”, “economic burden”, and “healthcare disparities”.
RA prevalence ranges from 0.3% to 1.0%, with the highest values in Northern Europe (0.8–1.0%) and North America (0.7–0.9%), and the lowest in Africa (0.1–0.3%) and rural Asia (0.2–0.4%). Work incapacity has declined in several high-income countries, attributed to earlier diagnosis and the widespread use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Socio-economic status is a key factor for RA outcomes, with patients in the lowest income groups showing up to 50% higher disability rates. Other risk factors include female sex, HLA-DRB1 alleles, smoking, and environmental exposures. The economic burden is considerable, with direct and indirect costs disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries, where RA frequently results in early work disability.
RA causes disability and reduces quality of life. Its prevalence is rising worldwide, with higher detection and better outcomes in high-income countries, while low-income countries face underdiagnosis and limited access to modern therapies. Reducing these disparities requires stronger healthcare systems, early diagnosis, and affordable and accessible treatments.
Post-stroke depression (PSD) and anxiety are common neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke, occurring in roughly one-third of survivors. Cognitive impairment is also frequently observed, affecting up to half of stroke patients. These conditions adversely impact rehabilitation and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and cognitive deficits in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
We conducted an observational study involving 99 patients with acute ischemic stroke, assessed within approximately two weeks of symptom onset, who were admitted to a tertiary care unit. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales, supplemented by the clinician-rated Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) and Anxiety (HAM-A) scales. Cognitive status was evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Descriptive statistics (proportions, means ± SD) were used to summarize the prevalence and severity of each condition.
The cohort had a mean age of 64.8 ± 8.1 years and was 63.5% male. Vascular risk factors were prevalent, with 88% of patients having hypertension and 33% having diabetes. Based on patient-reported measures, 16% of patients exhibited moderate depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥10), while 42% reported moderate to severe anxiety (GAD-7 ≥10). Clinician-administered assessments identified 35% of patients with moderate to severe depression (HAM-D ≥17) and 35% with clinically significant anxiety (HAM-A ≥18). The vast majority of patients (~92%) reported at least mild depressive symptoms, although only 0–1% met the criteria for severe depression.
Depression, anxiety, and cognitive deficits are highly prevalent in the acute phase of ischemic stroke, with approximately one in three patients experiencing clinically significant depression or anxiety and one in four exhibiting cognitive impairment. These findings underscore the importance of early neuropsychological assessment and intervention as part of acute stroke care to improve rehabilitation outcomes.