Current and Archived News

Recent or archived news relating to the management and care of arthritis in BC, as well current and past copies of Clinical Link, a newsletter containing information and clinical tips on arthritis.

 

Disclaimer

You are welcome to use these VCH publications for non-commercial purposes, but you do so entirely at your own risk. The publications are provided “as-is”—VCH cannot and does not promise that its publications are accurate, complete or error-free, and will not accept any liability to you or any third party relating to or arising out of the publications.  VCH will not notify you if VCH discovers an error in, or otherwise changes, its publications.

Current News

New Canadian Rheumatology Association Treatment Guidelines for RA

After 2 years in development by a national working group of rheumatologists, researchers, family physicians, and rheumatoid arthritis patient experts, 2011 CRA Treatment Recommendations for RA are now available.  These recommendations were created as a tool to help support clinical decision-making for healthcare providers and RA patients.  These recommendations include overarching RA care principles, graded treatment recommendations, RA assessment and treatment algorithms, and a discussion of barriers to implementation.  A more comprehensive summary of the guidelines are included in the November issue of the Clinical Link Newsletter below.  The guidelines can be found on the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) website at: http://www.rheum.ca/en/contentpage.asp?sid=23

New Report - The Impact of Arthritis in Canada: Today and over the next 30 Years

A report released at the end of last month, The impact of arthritis in Canada: Today and over the next 30 years, states that there are currently 4.4 million Canadians living with osteoarthritis and projects that in 30 years, more than 10 million, or one in four, Canadians will have OA. It is also predicted that rheumatoid arthritis, which currently affects 0.9% of the population, will increase to 1.3% over the next 30 years. To prevent this dramatic increase in disease prevalence, the report makes an economic case for implementing 4 major recommendations:

  • Provide TJR surgery to all who need it and want it
  • Reduce obesity rates by 50% in Canada
  • Provide adequate pain management to all individuals with at least moderately painful hip and knee OA
  • Improve early diagnosis and access to DMARD therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis. The full report is available is at

http://arthritisalliance.ca/home/index.php

 

Arthritis ID and Arthritis ID PRO Now Freely Available

Arthritis ID (patient version) and Arthritis ID PRO (health care professional version) have both been released and are free to download as an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch application. Both versions were produced by a collaboration between the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada and Arthritis Consumer Experts. Arthritis ID PRO is a valuable tool to help healthcare professionals screen patients for arthritis and understand the latest approaches in the disease’s treatment and prevention. Features include:

  • Interactive screening tool and questionnaire to help identify common forms of arthritis
  • Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities
  • Treatment strategies for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus and gout, as well as some rarer types of the disease

    To find out more, please visit www.ArthritisIsCured.org

Archived News – Arthritis Clinical Link Newsletters

 

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