title: The global challenges and opportunities in the practice of rheumatology: white paper by the World Forum on Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases.
abstract: Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) represent a multitude of degenerative, inflammatory and auto-immune conditions affecting millions of people worldwide. Persons with these diseases may potentially experience severe chronic pain, joint damage, increasing disability and even death. With an increasingly ageing population, the prevalence and burden of RMDs are predicted to increase, placing greater demands on the global practice of rheumatology and related healthcare budgets. Effective treatment of RMDs currently faces a number of challenges in both the developed and developing world, and individual countries may face more specific local challenges. However, limited understanding of the burden of RMDs amongst public health professionals and policy-makers means that these diseases are often not considered a public health priority. The objective of this review is to increase awareness of the RMDs and to identify opportunities to address RMD challenges on both a local and global scale. On 26 September 2014, rheumatology experts from five different continents met at the World Forum on Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WFRMD) to discuss and identify some key challenges for the RMDs community today. The outcomes are presented in this review, focusing on access to rheumatology services, diagnostics and therapies, rheumatology education and training and on clinical trials, as well as investigator-initiated and epidemiological research. The long-term vision of the WFRMD is to increase perception of the RMDs as a major burden to society and to explore potential opportunities to improve global and local RMD care.
authors.affiliation: Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, mmaini@wfrmd.org.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Maini
authors.forename: Femi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adelowo
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Al Saleh
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al Weshahi
authors.forename: Gerd-Rüdiger
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Burmester
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutolo
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: March
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McDonald-Blumer
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pile
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Carter
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: Tore K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kvien
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D014943:Global Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods