Among adults with arthritis, severe joint pain is significantly more prevalent in Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native patients vs. white patients, according to a new study of nearly 32,000 adults surveyed in 2019.
American Indian/Alaska Native adults demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of arthritis, compared with white adults — at 30.3% vs. 22.9% — a finding Odom said was in line with previous studies. According to the researchers American Indian/Alaska Native patients also reported the most severe joint pain, at 39.1%, followed by Black adults at 36.4%, and Hispanic adults at 35.7% — all significantly elevated compared with white adults, at 22.5%.
“These significant racial/ethnic differences remained after controlling for socioeconomic characteristics, BMI, depression status and comorbid conditions,” the researchers wrote. “Additional models, including inability to pay medical bills and food insecurity, did not explain the racial/ethnic differences.”
See “Severe joint pain more prevalent in Black, Hispanic, Indigenous patients vs white patients” by Justin Cooper on the Healio website (April 1, 2024)
