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. 2022 Jan;74(1):1-4.
doi: 10.1002/art.41980. Epub 2021 Dec 8.

Global Rheumatology Research: Frontiers, Challenges, and Opportunities

Joshua B Bilsborrow  1 , Ingris Peláez-Ballestas  2 , Bernardo Pons-Estel  3 , Christiaan Scott  4 , Xinping Tian  5 , Graciela S Alarcon  6 , Richard Bucala  7 , Laura B Lewandowski  8 , Evelyn Hsieh  1
Affiliations

Global Rheumatology Research: Frontiers, Challenges, and Opportunities

Joshua B Bilsborrow et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2022 Jan.
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interests:

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The scope and vicious cycle of the global rheumatology research gap. Panel A. Map demonstrating the top 20 countries represented by authors of publications in adult and pediatric rheumatology from May 2019 to May 2020. Panel B. Without a rheumatology-trained workforce, a vicious cycle develops leading to decreased access to care, and decreased research regarding the mechanisms, epidemiology, treatments, and outcomes of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. These factors contribute to missed diagnoses, under-treatment of rheumatic diseases, and poor outcomes. Under-reporting of rheumatic diseases drives under-recognition and under-funding at the national and institutional levels for rheumatology care, research, education, and health policy and funding. The human figures represent the number of patients with rheumatic disease; black indicates patients diagnosed and grey patients those missed or under-diagnosed. With each vicious cycle, more patients are missed, and the problem is compounded.
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References

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