June 12, 2009

Findings of International Survey Highlight the Significant Impact of Lupus on Patients' Lives

Results from an international online survey, carried out by UCB in conjunction with Lupus Europe and the Lupus Foundation of America, the two principal advocacy groups that represent people with lupus, were presented on June 12 during the EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, at a symposium called "Lupus - Considering the Future."

Professor David Isenberg (Professor of Rheumatology at University College Hospital London), the symposium chairman, commented "Lupus is unpredictable, for some people the effects are more benign but for others, as the survey shows, the disease can have a huge detrimental impact. For all patients, lupus specialists should work via a multi-disciplinary approach tailoring care to the individual needs of the patient." He continued "Because lupus is a complex disease affecting multiple body systems, the development of effective drugs with a favourable risk:benefit profile is a major challenge – the new biological treatments seem to offer hope but we must wait until the results of ongoing trials are known."

About the survey ...
  • The survey shows that lupus significantly impacts career, physical well-being and everyday living
  • 81% of respondents report a negative impact of lupus on their career, with more than 28% not employed due to the disease
  • 92% of respondents report a negative impact on their physical well being
  • Fatigue, arthritis and muscle pain reported as most common symptoms
Read the entire press release, and key survey findings, here.

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