The rheumatoid arthritis drug Cimzia has shown hopeful results in treating those who suffer moderate to severe symptoms.
Medical News Today reports that those who took the drug had significant improvement in their physical function, fatigue and pain management. These improvements led to an increase in work productivity both inside and outside the home.
In the study results, five times as many patients given the drug showed improvements in pain, and two-to-three times as many patients had improved physical function and fatigue. Patients also said they missed fewer work days.
“The pain, fatigue and functional impairment caused by rheumatoid arthritis significantly impact patients' lives, it decreases their productivity as well as participation in family, social and leisure activities," said lead author Dr. Johanna M. Hazes of the Erasmus MC, University Medical Center in the Netherlands, according to Medical News Today.
She added, "Importantly these data showed that reducing pain, fatigue and improving function was strongly associated with increased productivity at work, both within and outside the home."
The study was published in the journal Rheumatology.
