The 'side effects' of rheumatoid arthritis: joint destruction, disability and early mortality.

Most patients with RA experience disease progression over periods longer than 5 years, characterized by radiographic joint destruction, declines in functional capacity to perform activities of daily living, frequent work disability, high levels of co-morbidities, and death earlier than expected. These long-term consequences of RA may be viewed as 'side effects' of disease, which must be balanced against possible side effects of drugs in planning treatments of patients with RA. Aggressive approaches, which may include acceptance of mild and even moderate side effects of drugs, may be appropriate in efforts to prevent 'side effects' of RA.