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Arthritis in Aboriginal Manitobans: evidence for a high burden of disease

Cheryl Barnabe1, Brenda Elias, Judith Bartlett

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The Journal of Rheumatology
|April 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Aboriginal Manitobans experience a higher burden of arthritis, with increased physician claims for rheumatoid arthritis and other arthropathies. Gaps in understanding their healthcare access patterns persist.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Rheumatology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Arthritis significantly impacts populations globally, with varying prevalence and care patterns across diverse ethnic groups.
  • Understanding the specific burden and healthcare experiences of Indigenous populations is crucial for equitable health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence and patterns of arthritis care among Aboriginal Manitobans.
  • To compare arthritis burden and healthcare utilization between First Nations individuals and other Manitobans.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized three distinct data sources: physician claims (ICD-9 codes), the Manitoba First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (MFN Survey), and the Arthritis Centre research database.
  • Compared data for First Nations (FN) Manitobans against all other Manitobans for physician claims and self-reported rates.
  • Analyzed diagnostic patterns for Aboriginal versus Caucasian patients at the Arthritis Centre.

Main Results:

  • First Nations Manitobans showed twice the rate of physician claims for rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis, and unspecified arthropathy compared to other Manitobans.
  • The MFN Survey revealed a 21.0% self-reported arthritis rate and a 3.0% rheumatoid arthritis rate among First Nations individuals.
  • Aboriginal patients at the Arthritis Centre were 2-4 times more likely to have inflammatory arthritis diagnoses and less likely to have non-inflammatory types.

Conclusions:

  • The study confirms a greater burden of arthritis among Aboriginal Manitobans.
  • Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the reasons, timing, and methods of medical care access for Aboriginal individuals with arthritis.
Abstract

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