Seeking Musculoskeletal Care Save

A report entitled The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States (BMUS) report  was published by the US Bone and Joint Decade (USBJD) with input from rheumatology, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation regarding musculoskeletal care. 

Key facts from this publication include: 

• More than 30% of Americans have a musculoskeletal condition that requires medical attention.
• One in 2 adults reported a chronic musculoskeletal condition in 2005. The rate is twice that of reported chronic circulatory or respiratory conditions.
• In 2004, back pain accounted for more than 53 million health care visits; arthritis accounted for more than 44 million ambulatory care visits and 1 million hospitalizations; and musculoskeletal injuries accounted for more than 57 million health care visits-60% of injury treatment visits.
• One in 2 women and 1 in 4 men older than 50 years will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in his or her remaining lifetime.
• Less frequently, millions of children and adults have spinal deformities, musculoskeletal congenital conditions, and cancers of bone and connective tissue that reduce quality of life and longevity.
• Musculoskeletal disorders and diseases are the leading cause of disability in the United States.
• 15 million adults, or 7% of the US population, report having difficulty in performing routine activities of daily living because of a musculoskeletal condition; close to half are aged 45 to 64 years.
• Musculoskeletal disorders occur more frequently as persons age. In developed countries, they account for more that half of chronic conditions in persons older than 50 years.
• The annual direct and indirect costs of bone and joint health in the United States were $849 billion, or 7.7% of the gross domestic product, in the years 2002 to 2004.
• The burden of musculoskeletal conditions is expected to escalate in the next 10 to 20 years because of the aging population and sedentary lifestyles, but research currently accounts for less than 2% of the NIH budget.

For more information on the BMUS report, visit the Web site at http://www.boneandjointburden.org.