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Editorial
. 2020 Jul 27;9(8):2393.
doi: 10.3390/jcm9082393.

Tackling the Burden of Osteoarthritis as a Health Care Opportunity in Indigenous Communities-A Call to Action

Penny O'Brien  1 , Samantha Bunzli  1 , Ivan Lin  2 , Tilini Gunatillake  1 , Dawn Bessarab  3 , Juli Coffin  4 , Gail Garvey  5   6 , Michelle Dowsey  1 , Peter Choong  1
Affiliations
Editorial

Tackling the Burden of Osteoarthritis as a Health Care Opportunity in Indigenous Communities-A Call to Action

Penny O'Brien et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent and disabling disease, causing a significant individual and socioeconomic burden worldwide. Until now, there has been a dearth of research exploring the impact of osteoarthritis in global Indigenous communities. Osteoarthritis has a similar risk factor profile to many chronic diseases that disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples. In this editorial, we argue that osteoarthritis and associated mobility restrictions play a central role in the chronic disease profile of Indigenous peoples. We present a call to action for clinicians and health care providers, researchers and policymakers to begin to recognise the interrelated nature of osteoarthritis and chronic disease. We have an opportunity to change the way we do business, to improve access to culturally secure osteoarthritis care and the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities.

Keywords: Indigenous health; chronic disease; osteoarthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

We are a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous clinicians and researchers with expertise in osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal health, chronic disease and cultural security. The authors have neither conflicts of interest nor conflicts relating to financial support or other benefits from commercial sources for the work presented in this manuscript.

References

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