[Rheumatoid arthritis and disability]. / Revmatoidnyi artrit i invalidnost'.

The investigation conducted by the authors makes it possible to come to the conclusion that rheumatoid arthritis brings about early and severe invalidity mainly of young and middle-aged patients (predominantly women) persisting practically up to the pension age with further aggravation of disability. It has been also established that physicians of rural regions and interregional commissions for medical testimony are not sufficiently acquainted with the modern classification, methods of treating rheumatoid arthritis and specifying invalidity in connection with this disease. There is practically no specialized aid for the population of small towns and rural regions. The need in this aid is obvious.