New Survey Reveals That More Than Half of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Europe and Canada Feel Their Disease Controls T...( Three-of-Four Patients Surveyed Exper...)

Three-of-Four Patients Surveyed Experience Daily Pain From Rheumatoid Arthritis Despite Current Treatment; Findings Unveiled at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress of Rheumatology

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Results from the Rheumatoid Arthritis: Insights, Strategies & Expectations (RAISE) survey of more than 500 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients throughout Europe and Canada revealed a majority of patients still suffer from pain (79 percent), fatigue (67 percent) and joint stiffness (57 percent) on a regular basis despite current treatment, while more than half (51 percent) of RA patients feel their disease controls their life.

Furthermore, one-third of people with RA surveyed believe nothing can be done to stop the progression of the disease. The survey results were accepted for poster presentation at the 2009 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Annual Congress of Rheumatology in Copenhagen.

The RAISE survey sheds light on the unmet needs of RA patients regarding physician/patient consultation and support, treatment preferences and quality of life issues. Findings from the survey were also premiered at a special roundtable discussion between several of Europe's leading rheumatologists and RA patients representing key advocacy organizations from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Italy and Germany. The survey was commissioned by Schering-Plough Corporation and conducted by an independent public polling organization.

"Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease that has a significant impact on a patient's quality of life," said Iain McInnes, MD, PhD, FRCP, Professor of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, University of Glasgow, UK and RAISE Patient Needs Panel Steering Group member. "More than half of the surveyed patients feel that their lives are controlled by their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, demonstrating
'/>"/>