The Burden and Temporal Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in High-Income Countries and Territories, 1990-2023: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease causing progressive joint damage, disability, and excess mortality. Evaluating long-term epidemiological trajectories across high-resource health systems is essential for optimizing rheumatology care. This study analyzes the burden and 33-year temporal trends of RA across high-income countries and territories using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023 estimates.