The 15th of September marked the beginning of Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week, an event launched by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) in 2013 to educate on the symptoms and treatment options available for patients, and challenge misconceptions about this autoimmune disease. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) affects 1% of the global population, with twice as many women impacted than men. This year, RA Awareness Week comes at a particularly notable time as we mark the 77th Anniversary of when steroids were first used as treatment.
RA is one of the most common forms of arthritis, occurring when the body's immune system attacks its own joints, causing pain and swelling often in the hands, feet and wrists. There is currently no cure for this illness, but steroids are often used in disease management to reduce inflammation. Although effective at providing short-term relief, patients are often unaware of the range of side-effects caused by steroids, including high blood pressure, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, acne, diabetes, and mental health impacts such as anxiety. There is an urgent need to advance steroid-sparing treatment options that provide the same relief without the associated toxicities.
Another key organization championing the fight is the Arthritis Foundation, who are committed to improving patients' lives through dedicated resources and support, as well as fueling research into finding a cure. As part of creating awareness around the illness and its far-reaching impacts, the Foundation hosts an annual 'Commitment to a Cure Gala', an opportunity to recognize the community advancing the space and fostering connections to support ground-breaking research.
This year, we were proud to attend the Gala and celebrate the incredible work and legacy of two physicians leading in the field: Ayesha R. Abdeen, MD, Chief of the Division of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty at Boston Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Boston University, and John H. Stone, MD MPH, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and The Edward A. Fox Chair in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr Stone is the lead inventor of the STOX Suite, Steritas' portfolio of innovative clinical outcome assessment instruments of steroid-toxicity, and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board. Both Dr Abdeen and Dr Stone have been acknowledged as 2025 Arthritis Foundation Marian Ropes Honorees, recognizing their excellence in arthritis care and leadership.
To learn more about the vital work organizations like the NRAS and the Arthritis Foundation are doing to advance arthritis research and improve patient care, please visit their websites.
RA Awareness Week shines a light on the critical challenge of steroid-toxicity. For 77 years now, the world has been hooked on these drugs as the first-line treatment for a wide range of conditions caused by inflammation, including arthritis. More than 50 million people take steroids long-term, and it is clear the burdens of toxicity outweigh many of the beneficial effects over time.
The Great Taper™ is a public health initiative to raise awareness of steroid-toxicity and promote alternative treatment strategies. To learn more, and how the GTI is advancing efforts to address this hidden epidemic, please visit our History page.
Dr Stone will be giving the Hench Memorial Lecture at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence conference. Taking place from 24th-25th October in Chicago, the event will bring together international experts in the field to discuss the latest advances in Rheumatology.