Experts: Health authorities should address burden increase in musculoskeletal diseases

The Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health along with international experts are asking for health authorities to address the burden of musculoskeletal conditions, which affect one in three people internationally, according to recent research published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

"Despite these conditions often leading to significant mental health decline, an increased risk of developing other chronic health conditions and a higher probability of death, musculoskeletal health is not identified as a priority area for the global management of non-communicable diseases and has largely been neglected from a health resourcing point of view,” Prof. Karsten Dreinhöfer, MD, from Charité Universitätsmedizin and Medical Park Humboldtmühle, Berlin, Germany and chair of the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health, told Healio.com/Orthopedics.

Researchers from the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health evaluated the global impact in 150 musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis and fractures, and discussed three priorities to put into global action. The researchers noted burden of musculoskeletal diseases increased in low-income and middle-income settings.

"While not as strongly associated with death as other non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, the disability-burden associated with musculoskeletal conditions is enormous and far greater than other health conditions,” Dreinhöfer said.

Dreinhöfer said the research called on WHO and its member states to help reduce the global disability burden of musculoskeletal conditions by explicitly addressing it in health reforms and policy agendas, including setting global targets that align with people's functional ability, rather than only mortality outcomes.

“There is a wealth of evidence documenting the huge toll that musculoskeletal conditions have on a person’s physical ability, mental health, as well as the significant burden in terms of healthcare costs,” Dreinhöfer, said in a press release from the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health. “This highlights that policies, strategies and health programs for non-communicable diseases must include musculoskeletal health as an integral component, particularly within health programs targeted at lower socio-economic communities and older people.” – by Monica Jaramillo

References:

bjdonline.org/gmusc-experts-call-for-global-action-in-who-bulletin-published-1st-may-2018/

Briggs AM, et al. Bull World Health Organ. 2018; doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.17.204891.

Disclosure: Dreinhöfer reports no relevant financial disclosures.