Rheumatic Diseases

Arthritis and rheumatism encompass over 200 different conditions – osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and gout, but also back pain, fibromyalgia and soft-tissue rheumatism, to name but a few.

Acute or chronic pain are typical for all these diseases and are experienced by most patients.

Rheumatic diseases are very common – most people experience rheumatic pain at least once in their lives.

The causes of many rheumatic diseases are still not known and only research will lead to better treatments.

In Switzerland

1,5 million people (1in 5) have symptoms of arthritis.

Nearly 300,000 people suffer from severe, chronic  forms of rheumatic disease which can result in  disability or the need for care.

1 child in 1,000 suffers from a rheumatic disorder.

The direct and indirect costs of arthritis and rheumatic disease amount to billions of francs.

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