Social and economic impacts of four musculoskeletal conditions

TLDR

The authors analyzed national community‑based survey data to compare social impact and medical care use among rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, tendinitis, a broader musculoskeletal condition group, and an age‑adjusted U.S. population sample.

Abstract

Abstract The present study uses data from a national, community‐based survey to compare the social impact of and medical care use due to 4 musculoskeletal conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and tendinitis. The study also compares the impacts experienced by persons with these conditions with those experienced by a sample of persons having a broader range of musculoskeletal conditions, and by an age‐adjusted sample representing the entire U.S. population. Rheumatoid arthritis leads to the most frequent use of physician services; lower back pain results in the most hospitalizations and surgery. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes the most restriction in activity. We found that as a broad group, persons with musculoskeletal disease experience about the same amount of restriction in activity and use about the same amount of medical care as U.S. citizens as a whole. This study demonstrates that health planning on the basis of specific musculoskeletal conditions is necessary to serve the disparate needs of persons with particular, discrete conditions.