Prevalence and Economic Impact of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Medically Underserved Rio Grande Valley

Introduction: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (OA/RA), two of the most common forms of arthritis worldwide, are chronic diseases affecting joints. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is characterized by an abundance of health disparities with previous studies showing increased rates of multiple diseases and disorders in this region. The purpose of this study was to determine both the prevalence and the risk-adjusted average total cost of OA/RA in the RGV and compare with the national average. Methods: This retrospective, observational study utilized publicly accessible Medicare beneficiary data from 2012 to 2022. Data on OA/RA prevalence, risk-adjusted average total cost, and stratified prevalence by sex and ethnicity were compared between the RGV and national averages using the "Mapping Medicare Disparities by Population" tool. Independent T-tests and Mann Whitney-U tests were used for statistical comparisons. Results: Overall, the prevalence of OA/RA in the RGV was significantly higher than the national average (39.9% vs. 26.9%, p < 0.001). Women in the region exhibited significantly higher rates of OA/RA compared to the national average (47.6% vs 32.1%, p < 0.001), and a similar trend was seen among Hispanic residents (41.6%) compared to the national mean (32.1%) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the risk-adjusted average total cost for individuals residing in the RGV ($16,084.40) significantly exceeded the risk-adjusted average total cost nationally ($13,073.90) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In the RGV, there is an increased prevalence and risk-adjusted average total cost of OA/RA when compared to the national mean, especially among women and Hispanic residents.