Under the direct supervision of Al Zaidi Chair of Research in Rheumatic Diseases, an Intern Doctors team at the College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) conducted a documented scientific study and published it in a global scientific journal.  

In this context, the researchers' team which comprised Alaa Brahmain, Ramy Mqleya, Muhammad Shaheen, Shorouq Munser, Ayman Flemban, Muhammad Al-Sharif, and Prof. Hani Al-Mu'allem analyzed the results of more than 100 published studies. The studies followed the delay in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis to calculate the average delay in diagnosis, and provide international treatment. It was found that patients spent an average of 12 months, and in some studies up to 30 months, until they were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Most of this period was following the visit of the first doctor until transference to the specialist arthritis doctor. It should be taken into account that the duration of diagnosis following the onset of symptoms should not exceed six months; otherwise it will lead to the rapid development of the disease and the appearance of complications.    

Within the same framework, the researchers also conducted a systematic monitoring of all studies published in the same domain, and concluded the factors that affected the speed of diagnosis and the provision of appropriate treatment. Then, the researchers concluded the study with a set of recommendations that would contribute to speeding up this process, the most significant of which was the need for communication and coordination between the primary care centers and the doctors of arthritis and rheumatism.

It is worth mentioning that this project has been completed and published in a global scientific journal due to the intense effort and continuous work for more than a year with the support of Al Zaidi Chair. Moreover, the researchers have been preparing to present their results at the Asian Society of Rheumatology (ARLAR) global conference, which will be held late October this year in Dubai, UAE. The research will be presented in the conference among five researches supervised and achieved by Al Zaidi Chair.

This is an ongoing approach by Al Zaidi Chair, which pays great attention to scientific activities and research on arthritis and rheumatism, in order to localize knowledge and empower the capabilities of doctors in our dear homeland. This is evident in the Chair's prominent contributions and ongoing achievements.

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