Report: Arthritis treatments should take into consideration other health conditions



In addition to being given a prescription to buy Celebrex or other medications, individuals with arthritis should receive coordinated care that addresses their other health concerns, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

In addition to being given a prescription to buy Celebrex or other medications, individuals with arthritis should receive coordinated care that addresses their other health concerns, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

The report calls for a coordinated approach for dealing with chronic disease. Rather than treating patients' ailments individually, doctors should work to address a patient's health from a more holistic standpoint.

"Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and results in people losing their independence and their ability to care for themselves and their other chronic diseases," said Arthritis Foundation president and CEO Dr. John H. Klippel, whose group recently endorsed the report. "More than 50 percent of people with heart disease and diabetes have arthritis."

Furthermore, 25 percent of adults in the U.S. suffer from multiple chronic diseases. Data show that this increases the odds that a patient will receive substandard care for one of their conditions. If arthritis treatments suffer, individuals may experience difficulty in everyday tasks.

This is why it is so important for physicians to begin addressing chronic diseases in a more holistic manner, the report states. 

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