EACH of the 10 million people with arthritis in the UK will lose, on average, five years’ worth of quality life across their lifetime, according to research from a new charity, Versus Arthritis.  

And can I say that in the area covered by the Central Fife Times there will be hundreds of people who suffer from this condition.

The Defying Arthritis at Every Age report lays bare for the first time the personal impact of the condition on all parts of life – the ability to work, spend time with loved ones and do the simplest of movements without pain. The burden of arthritis on those with it is quantified using the metric Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) lost, as well as research among those who live with the condition2.  

While everyone’s experience is different, half of people with arthritis are in pain every day. As such, the condition is contributing to an overall reduction in life quality for millions of people and is causing many to become isolated.  

The report, part of a national campaign launching this week, reveals that half (50%) of people with arthritis in Scotland feel those without it do not understand what it’s like to live with the condition, while 58% don’t tell people about their condition because they worry they would be seen as ‘whinging’. 

As a result, over half (55%) of people with arthritis in Scotland feel unable to ask for help and 52% say they feel lonely on a regular basis, with the number rising to nearly three quarters (73%) for younger people (16-34-year olds). 

Other key finding from the report include: 

· Independence: Almost half (44%) of people with arthritis in Scotland have difficulty getting around independently, with 46% of respondents in Scotland saying they actively avoid going out on their own, compared with 39% of people in the UK.

· Work: 46% of people with arthritis in Scotland had to give up work because of their condition and 53% have had to reduce their working hours, compared with 38% in the UK. Over a third (35%) have had to reconsider the career they wanted to pursue.

· Family life: Three quarters of people (76%) say that their family and social lives are compromised by the condition. Three quarters (75%) say they find it harder to take part in events with family and friends (compared with 60% in the UK), while almost two thirds (61%) say they have missed out on special occasions (compared with 47% in the UK).

· Relationships: Over half (55%) worry about being physically intimate as a result of their arthritis, while 42% say their friendships or relationships are left strained because of it.   This is compared with 31% in the UK.

We are Versus Arthritis. Arthritis Care and Arthritis Research UK have come together to do more for people with arthritis. Find out more at versusarthritis.org

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CLAIRE WALSH,​

Communications Officer,

Versus Arthritis.