Roche has been continuing its innovation-oriented work globally for 125 years with the mission of improving people’s lives and has launched the “Hayat Benim Elimde” platform, created to provide reliable medical information to Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients and their relatives so that they can take a more active role in their fight against RA. “Hayat Benim Elimde (Life is in My Hands)”, created by Roche Pharmaceuticals Turkey together with physicians, aims to improve the lives of people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and to ensure that newly diagnosed patients have access to reliable information.
Focusing on improving people’s lives with its innovative inventions and large-scale initiatives in the healthcare ecosystem for 125 years, Roche continues to work for contributing to the fight against diseases and disease management. In this context, the “Hayat Benim Elimde” platform, implemented by Roche Pharmaceuticals Turkey, aims to contribute to people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) disease and their relatives.
Affects 1 in 100 people worldwide
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory rheumatism that affects the joints symmetrically, especially the hand and foot joints and similar small joints[1], is seen with a frequency of 0.5-1.1% in the world[2]. Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men[3], can occur at any age, although it is usually seen between the ages of 30 and 60 in women and a little later in men[4]. Studies have shown that if a family member has this disease and/or smokes, the probability of developing the disease increases.
Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is a chronic disease, can affect the quality of life of patients in various aspects, while it progresses with exacerbations and sleep periods. Patients may experience fatigue, weakness, morning stiffness and sleep problems. Difficulties may occur in daily life, depending on the severity of pain faced by patients, limitation in physical functions and the extent of joint damage. For these reasons, early diagnosis of the disease and initiation of the treatment process play an important role in improving the quality of life.
Roche Pharmaceuticals Turkey invites Rheumatoid Arthritis patients to say “Life is in My Hands”
The “Hayat Benim Elimde*” platform, which is prepared to ensure that patients and their relatives have access to accurate and up-to-date information about Rheumatoid Arthritis, also includes suggestions to improve the quality of daily activities of those struggling with the disease. From mental state management to nutritional information, from pain management to business life, the website contains informational video contents of specialist physicians about the disease.
Mahir Kurt, Medical Director of Roche Pharmaceuticals Turkey, said the following on the subject: “Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease and a definitive cure has not yet been found and this disease affects daily life in many ways. While factors such as pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints can be physically limiting, it is often unpredictable when or how severe the attacks will occur. Early diagnosis and treatment are of great importance in Rheumatoid Arthritis, which can have negative effects on work, education and activities of daily life. When the disease is diagnosed early, treatments can give better results[5]. We, Roche Pharmaceuticals Turkey, launched the ‘Hayat Benim Elimde*’ platform in order to raise awareness about Rheumatoid Arthritis, to make everyone understand the importance of early diagnosis, and to ensure that patients and their relatives can always access up-to-date and accurate information about life with Rheumatoid Arthritis. On the website and social media accounts of our platform, we share what patients and their relatives wonder about and suggestions that will make life easier with this disease. We want to contribute to the journey of everyone struggling with this disease by enriching our platform with the videos we have prepared with expert physicians, and we invite them to say ‘Life is in My Hands’ against the negative effects of the symptoms of the disease.”
“Hayat Benim Elimde*” platform, which includes comprehensive suggestions that will facilitate the lives of those living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and their relatives, as well as accurate information, can be accessed via the links below.
[1] https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/
[2] https://www.turkiyeklinikleri.com/article/en-romatoid-artrit-epidemiyolojisi-klinik-ozellikleri-ve-tanisi-90115.html
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/rheumatoid-arthritis.html
[4] https://www.healthline.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/facts-statistics-infographic#Prevalence
[5] https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/
