RHEUMATOID arthritis is more widespread than previously thought and not enough is being done to deal with it, according to a newly-published report.

Too many people are not being diagnosed or treated quickly enough, and some services for people with the disease are not co-ordinated enough, said the study by the National Audit Office.

Delay in treatment is harmful to patients’ health and quality of life and, as three- quarters of people are of working age when diagnosed, the economy.

Chris Groom, audit manager for the report, said: “We estimate that 580,000 adults in England have the condition, which is higher than existing estimates of 400,000 for the UK, and that there are 26,000 new cases each year in England, compared to existing estimates of 12,000 for the UK.”

The report estimates that rheumatoid arthritis costs the NHS around £560m a year in healthcare costs, with the majority of this in the acute sector, and that the additional cost to the economy of sick leave and work-related disability is £1.8bn a year.

It says that early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.