The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
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Review Meta Analysis
Racial-Ethnic Differences in Osteoarthritis Pain and Disability: A Meta-Analysis.
Osteoarthritis (OA), a leading cause of disability and pain, affects 32.5 million Americans, producing tremendous economic burden. Although some findings suggest that racial/ethnic minorities experience increased OA pain severity, other studies have shown conflicting results. This meta-analysis examined differences in clinical pain severity between African Americans (AAs) and non-Hispanic whites with OA. ⋯ Clinical pain severity and disability in OA is higher among AAs and future studies should explore the reasons for these differences to improve pain management. PERSPECTIVE: This meta-analysis shows that differences exist in clinical pain severity, functional limitations, and poor performance between AAs and non-Hispanic whites with OA. This research may lead to a better understanding of racial/ethnic differences in OA-related pain.