It is well known that women not only tend to acquire rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) more frequently than men but also often face disparities in the diagnosis and management of these conditions. But why do these disparities persist in the rheumatologist’s office and beyond, and what are some ways that rheumatologists can help to mitigate them?

In an article with Medscape, Medha Barbhaiya, MD, MPH, a rheumatologist and clinical researcher with the Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Diseases at HSS, discussed what factors may contribute to disparities and the steps rheumatology practices can take to improve and optimize care for women.

“I think in general, improving care for women with systemic rheumatic disease requires not just improving our ability to manage and prevent disease complications,” Dr. Barbhaiya said, “but really also requires listening to women, taking their symptoms seriously, recognizing potential biases, and incorporating factors relevant to reproductive and other women’s health issues into their rheumatology care. It is also extremely important to understand any barriers to health that exist in their daily lives.”

Read the full article at medscape.com.