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In many instances, these comorbidities, along with osteoarthritic pain, result in inactivity. Subsequently, some individuals
may begin to withdraw from work, social activities, and medical treatment. While healthcare providers (HCP) might perceive
these patients as being lazy and non-compliant, this high-risk group may be experiencing a level of depression that could
become increasingly debilitating if the appropriate interventions are not utilized.
8
“Depression” can range from mild to serious, temporary to persistent, and may exhibit a range of symptoms. Depression
is commonly diagnosed by mental health providers following published guidelines by the American Psychiatric Association.
Some of the noteworthy symptoms that healthcare practitioners can be alert to include:
• Feeling empty, sad or tearful for about two weeks or longer
• Reduced interest in most daily activities at home, school, work
• Change in appetite, including weight gain or loss
• Restlessness, fatigue, insomnia
• Difficulty making decisions or concentrating
• Recurrent thoughts of ending life
Observing and documenting the above types of symptoms, especially in relation to musculoskeletal disabilities, may be
important for identifying and treating depression as a comorbidity.
Today, more than a decade since the IOM
Unequal Treatment
report, there is still the need for multi-disciplinary discussion
among healthcare providers regarding favorable approaches to reduce and ultimately eliminate disparities. With growing
diversity among ethnicities and nationalities, it is imperative that evidence-based clinical efforts, steeped in culturally specific
community-based programs and innovative multidisciplinary research, are routinely used to improve longevity and quality of
life for vulnerable and high-risk populations that include women and minorities.
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limited moBILITY
Musculoskeletal conditions define injuries or pain that affect the muscles, bones, joints, and nerves that support the neck,
shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, back, hips, legs, knees, and feet
10, 11
as seen in figure 2.
Figure 2: Areas that Osteoarthritis Affects
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_info/Osteoarthritis/default.aspOverall, female, African American and Hispanics experience
a higher severity of osteoarthritis and limitations of mobility.