# Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis: Deep Learning vs. Humane
## 1 Introduction  
### Definition and Epidemiology of RA  
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that preferably affects small joints. RA can also cause many extra-articular manifestations such as pericarditis, pulmonary fibrosis, and peripheral neuropathy, etc. Most often, the diagnosis is made when patients with pain and swelling in the peripheral joints, as well as joint stiffness in the morning, seek medical help. Pain due to RA is typically worse in the morning and the evening and improves during the day. Awakening in the night because of pain in the joints has also been described as a common symptom of RA, as in most inflammatory rheumatic diseases. RA is a \"multicausal\" disease that most likely results from a combination of genetic predisposition and various environmental and lifestyle factors. Articular and systemic manifestations can lead to poor long-term outcomes such as disability and death [1].  
The worldwide prevalence of RA has been estimated as 0.24% based upon the Global Burden of Disease 2010 Study and was approximately two times higher in women [2]. Certain population groups are much more affected than others. This is why the prevalence of RA can reach up to 1% of the general population in some countries. The lifetime risk of developing RA is 3.6% in women and 1.7% in men [3]. The prevalence of RA has remained stable from 1990 to 2010. The annual incidence of RA in the United States and northern European countries is estimated to be approximately 40 per 100,000 persons [4, 5]. Globally, of the 291 conditions studied, RA was ranked as the 42 nd highest contributor to global disability. Disability was measured in years lived with disability (YLDs) and represented 0.49% of total YLDs. YLDs for RA increased over the years (from 48/100,000 in 1990 to 55/100,000 in 2010). This was due to the population increase worldwide over these years and due to the aging of the population. YLDs were higher in females in comparison tomales [2]. The prevalence of RA is more intense in the regions of central and north Europe, while it is more suppressed in countries near the equator. There are also countries with no prevalence data (e.g., Australia).  
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) because of RA increased by 44% for all ages over the years 1990-2010. In 2010, RA was ranked 74 th in global DALYs, accounting for 0.19% of total DALYs [2]. The age-standardized death rate from RA in 2010 was approximately 0.8 per 100,000, but there is considerable uncertainty regarding this matter [2]. RA's financial burden on society is substantial. The financial burden of RA is a summative effect of RA treatment itself (doctor visits, medication including DMARDs = disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, biologicals, physiotherapy, ergotherapy, psychotherapy if needed, etc.) and the costs of sickness absence. According to a study published in 2009, societal costs of RA in the US are USD 19.3 billion and USD 39.2 billion (in 2005 dollars) without and with intangible costs, respectively [6]. Since 2009, there have been many more biologists on the market as a therapeutic option for RA, which are more selective and therefore more expensive. The annual treatment costs of specific immunosuppressive drugs used against RA (most of them are also used against other inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as axial spondyloarthritis or psoriatic arthritis) are presented in Figure 1[7].  
Hence, the medical treatment of the patients is costly, and the degradation of the joints is non-irreversible. Taking into account the growing pain of the patient as well as the deterioration of the quality of life of those people suffering from RA, the prospect of a well-timed diagnosis of RA disease is considered to be quite important.