When poverty gets into your joints: exploring socioeconomic, environmental, and gendered determinants of rheumatoid arthritis in district Dir lower, Pakistan

As one of the first studies to quantify seasonal and gender-based disparities in RA in South Asia, our findings underscore the critical role of socio-structural factors in shaping disease experience in resource-poor settings. The results directly inform the WHO Global RA Action Plan for LMICs. We propose three evidence-based interventions for underserved regions: mobile rheumatology units to bridge geographical gaps, climate-adaptive pain management protocols, and community-led psychosocial support programs to address gendered and economic vulnerabilities.