Among first-degree relatives of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, perceived risk of developing the condition themselves was high, and the main predictors of perceived risk were being a child of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, high health anxiety, and low perceptions of treatment control. These findings were published by Bunnewell et al in RMD Open. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their first-degree relatives were invited to complete surveys; 395 first-degree relatives’ response data were included in the analysis. Over 65% of first-degree relatives responded that they perceived themselves as either likely or very likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis; first-degree relatives have a three- to fivefold higher chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis vs the general population. The study authors concluded, “Understanding of these predictors [of perceived risk] will inform the development of effective risk communication strategies and aid rheumatoid arthritis prevention and early intervention efforts.”
May 25, 2023