Lost Labour Force due to Arthritis

Arthritis is a common and costly health condition internationally. The direct medical costs of arthritis are significant, with the condition being the fourth most common reason for seeking general practitioner medical care. Treatment of arthritis in Australia cost around $4 billion (AU) in health system expenditure in 2004–05, the fourth largest cause of health expenditure in the country. However, this figure covers only the direct medical costs, and the indirect costs, are considered to be larger. This article "The personal and national costs of lost labour force participation due to arthritis: an economic study" written by Deborah J Schofield et al appears in the open access journal BMC Public Health. The authors are affiliated with the University of Sydney, or the University of Canberra and/or the University Department of Rural Health (North Coast) -  Lismore, Australia.