EDITORIAL - Rheumatic diseases: the unnoticed elephant in the room

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Journal of Rheumatology

Editorial

January 2008

Rheumatic Diseases: The Unnoticed Elephant in the Room

ELIZABETH M. BADLEY, PhD,

Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences,

Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto;

Senior Scientist, Toronto Western Research Institute,

399 Bathurst Street, MP10-316,

Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada

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The idiom " elephant in the room " refers to something everyone knows is

there, but no one talks about1. The group of conditions known as rheumatic

diseases, or musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders, is indeed an elephant, given

the magnitude of their impact on the population. These conditions also fit

the description, as nobody, particularly influential people who " matter " -

not politicians, policymakers, opinion leaders, or government in general -

talks about them. But do they know that they are there?

The article by Loza, et al in this issue of The Journal aims to describe the

extent to which rheumatic diseases (the term they use) affect health-related

quality of life and functional ability and to compare their influence with

that of other chronic diseases2. The authors hope to increase recognition of

rheumatic diseases to be on a par with " cardiovascular, pulmonary, or even

neurological diseases. "

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Read the entire editorial here:

http://www.jrheum.com/subscribers/08/01/6.html

Not an MD