RESEARCH - Arthritis disproportionately affects certain minorities

[Guest guest]

Arthritis Disproportionately Affects Certain Minorities

April 19, 2010 — The prevalence of arthritis is lower among blacks and

Hispanics than among whites, but its effect, in terms of joint pain

and physical and work limitations, is greater, according to a study

published online April 15 in Preventing Chronic Disease.

The study team notes that past research exploring the prevalence and

effect of arthritis has focused on large racial/ethnic groups (blacks,

whites, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic " other " ), and not on smaller

non-Hispanic groups, " which is necessary to tailor arthritis

interventions appropriately. "

In the article, Bolen, PhD, from the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention's Division of Adult and Community Health, National

Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Atlanta,

Georgia, and colleagues provide updated and expanded estimates of

physician-diagnosed arthritis and its effect on smaller racial/ethnic

groups that had in previous studies been combined in a " non-Hispanic

other " category.

************************************

Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/720455

Not an MD