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Persistent Gaps in Global Rheumatology Care and Research
Hunter Villela Augusto1, Danilo Rodrigues Ramos2, Sheilla Achieng3
1Postgraduate Program in Medical Pathophysiology, School of Medical Science, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Rheumatic diseases cause global disability due to unequal access to care. Solutions include telehealth and strengthening healthcare workforces to improve diagnosis and treatment in underserved regions.
Area of Science:
- Global health
- Rheumatology
- Public health policy
Background:
- Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are a significant global health burden.
- Disparities in healthcare access, particularly for rheumatologists, lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, causing disability.
- Limited access to research in low-resource settings hinders evidence generation and policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the global challenges in diagnosing and treating rheumatic diseases.
- To identify barriers to care in low and middle-income countries and rural areas.
- To propose actionable solutions for improving RMD care access and research.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on RMD prevalence and healthcare disparities.
- Analysis of factors contributing to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
- Discussion of potential interventions and strategies.
Main Results:
- Significant global prevalence of RMDs with pronounced regional disparities in care access.
- Concentration of rheumatologists in high-income countries and urban areas creates access barriers.
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment due to cost and geographical limitations are common.
Conclusions:
- Addressing inequities in RMD care requires multifaceted solutions.
- Telehealth, workforce strengthening, and accessible generic medications are key interventions.
- Supporting multicenter studies is crucial for evidence-based public health policies in rheumatology.
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