Korean Domestic Trends in Clinical Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis since 2008

Abstract

Objectives To investigate the trends in clinical study on rheumatoid arthritis in all academic fields in Korea. Methods We searched seven Korean web databases for clinical studies published from 2008 to 2021. All identified studies were reviewed and classified by the year of publication, academic field, and study design. Results A total of 347 clinical studies were selected. An average of 26.7 studies were published each year. Regarding the distribution of studies by academic fields, 309 studies were published in the medical field and 17 studies were published during the same period in Korean medicine, and 21 studies were published in other fields. The distribution of studies by study design was as follows: 8 studies, meta-analyses; 5 studies, systematic reviews; 16 studies, experimental studies; and 318 studies, observational studies. Conclusions Multidisciplinary access and management are required for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, effective management of disease progression, and prevention of rheumatoid joint deformities. Additionally, study design with high-level of evidence on the intervention of rheumatoid arthritis are warranted.

Design of a Self-Measuring Device Based on Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for Regular Monitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…To understand in which context patients with RA manage the disease, we conducted 1:1 in-depth interviews with seven patients with RA. In Korea, the number of female patients is three times more than male patients [ 41 ]. Therefore, our interview focused more on empathizing with female patients.…”