title: A time for action: Opportunities for preventing the growing burden and disability from musculoskeletal conditions in low- and middle-income countries.
abstract: Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions cause an enormous global burden, and this is dramatically increasing in developing countries, particularly due to rapidly ageing populations and increasing obesity. Many of the global non-communicable disease (NCD) initiatives need to expand beyond the traditional 'top four' NCD groups by incorporating MSK diseases. It is critical that MSK initiatives in developing countries integrate well with health systems, rather than being stand-alone. A better inclusion of MSK conditions will avoid doubling of efforts and wasting of resources, and will help to promote a more streamlined, cost-effective approach. Other key opportunities for action include the following: ensuring the principles of 'development effectiveness' are met; strengthening leadership and commitment; building the research, information and evidence base; and reducing the incidence and disability of MSK conditions through better prevention. Each of these elements is necessary to mitigate and reduce the growing burden from the MSKs.
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Brisbane, Australia; Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Public Health Division, New Caledonia. Electronic address: damehoy@yahoo.com.au.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoy
authors.affiliation: University of East Anglia, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. Electronic address: jo.geere@uea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jo-Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Geere
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Jalal Al-Ahmad Avenue, Tehran 14117, Iran. Electronic address: fddh@davatchi.net.
authors.forename: Fereydoun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davatchi
authors.affiliation: Independent Consultant, Australia. Electronic address: bmeggitt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meggitt
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering, Bogota, Colombia. Electronic address: lopehugo@javeriana.edu.co.
authors.forename: Lope H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Barrero
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D003906:Developing Countries; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D014943:Global Health; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Burden; Developing; Disability; Low income; Middle income; Musculoskeletal; Prevention; Rheumatology