Welcome Welcome to the irishhealth.com rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinic. In this clinic we provide an overview of arthritis which affects one in six people in Ireland – over 700,000 people. There are over 100 different types of arthritis. The most common form is osteoarthritis (OA) caused by wear and tear. Most people over 55 have some evidence of this. However, this clinic focuses specifically on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – a painful inflammatory condition that affects approximately 40,000 people in Ireland and can have a major effect on quality of life, requiring careful management. In recent years there have been significant developments in treatment options for RA. This clinic offers advice on the management of RA both in terms of treatment and also guidance on practical day-to-day issues. Our aim is to add to the pool of information about arthritis care offered by Arthritis Ireland, to provide an online resource to aid in self-management, and to complement the work of health professionals.