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If you’re a practicing rheumatologist who keeps up with field news by subscribing to Rheum Now and Cleveland Clinic’s Rheumatology Daily Briefing e-newsletters, then you’ve probably heard a lot about the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology recently.

What is the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, you may ask? Every year, The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) holds this forum so rheumatology professionals across the European Union can connect with patient organizations and can learn and engage with other professionals in rheumatology. As an organization that represents the patient, healthcare professional and professional societies of rheumatology, EULAR holds this forum help achieve progress in the care of people who suffer from various rheumatic diseases.

This year’s congress took place in Madrid, Spain just a few short weeks ago, and everyone around the world is still buzzing about the presentations and findings that were on display. If you keep up with my blogs, you might have read my coverage about “Smoke Exposure in Childhood Can Boost Chances of Getting RA” and “Medicines May Help to Prevent Arthritis” that were presented at the forum. Additional newsworthy topics that are worth mentioning are a new prediction tool that can reduce the cost of rheumatoid arthritis treatment and new effective treatments that are in development for psoriatic arthritis patients.

What is the Purpose of the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology?

The annual EULAR Congresses are deemed a major event in the calendar of world rheumatology, according to EULAR President Gerd R. Burmester, as he welcomes congress attendees in the programme book. The congress encourages interaction between patients, doctors, scientists, health professionals and professionals representing the rheumatology pharmaceutical industry from Europe and from around the world. With a wide range of topics covered, the congress displays hundreds of poster presentations, tours, and panels across four days of innovative and informative breakthroughs in the field.

As there’s been an increasing interest in rheumatic diseases over the years, EULAR has become more popular and is growing by the year. As such, more people are getting informed about the size, burden and cost of these diseases for society. With EULAR’s Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, thousands of professionals have become more educated in the field and over time, the organization has significantly improved the ability to diagnose and treat rheumatic diseases worldwide.

What Medical Topics are Covered at the Congress?

The Annual European Congress of Rheumatology covers the whole spectrum of rheumatic diseases through lectures, symposiums, abstract sessions, presentations, discussions and workshops. Below is a listing of some of the topics that are covered in the field of rheumatology. Keep in mind not all topics here are listed, but you can find a more complete list on The Annual European Congress of Rheumatology Scientific Programme here.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • SLE (otherwise known as lupus)
  • Vasculitis
  • Scleroderma
  • Spondylarthropathies
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Infection-related rheumatic diseases
  • Paediatric rheumatology
Opportunities Abound for Health Professionals

Ever dreamed of presenting at a conference? The Annual European Congress of Rheumatology is probably the most prestigious conference you can present at in the field of rheumatology. With mass coverage by rheumatology news outlets and exposure to people around the world, this conference is an opportunity of a lifetime to not only present, but to attend as well.

As a health professional, if you’re interested in contributing to the congress, you can submit an abstract of your research to be evaluated by fellow rheumatologists and health professionals. Keep an eye out for open submissions starting in October. If you’re accepted, you can apply for a travel bursary to present your abstract at the congress in the Netherlands next year!

Opportunities for People with Arthritis and Rheumatism

Not only are there opportunities for health professionals, but there are opportunities for people with rheumatic diseases as well.

The People with Arthritis and Rheumatism (PARE) programme at the congress includes representatives of patient organizations from around the world to educate stakeholders and health professionals. In the end, this will benefit people who suffer from the disease because it will provide newer information about the treatment, care and quality of life for people with these diseases.

If you’re interested in contributing to the congress via the PARE program, you can submit an abstract to be evaluated by official representatives of the PARE program. Keep an eye out for open submissions starting in October. If you’re accepted, you can apply for a travel bursary to present your abstract at the congress in the Netherlands next year!

For more information about the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, you can visit their website here.