Study finds 'divide' in muscle condition treatment

A muscle condition which causes severe pain in elderly people is being underdiagnosed in the north of England, according to health experts.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the most common form of joint inflammation and affects around two per cent of people over the age of 65.

However, researchers based at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) said there was a "north-south divide" in how the condition is recognised and treated.

They said the impact of that was leaving many sufferers "isolated".

The main symptom of PMR is muscle stiffness in the shoulders, hips and neck which lasts longer than 45 minutes, according to the NHS.

Other symptoms can include extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss and depression.

While its cause is unknown, it is very rare in people under the age of 50 and is slightly more common in women than men.

The study found patients with PMR were often not diagnosed quickly, were not receiving appropriate support and health advice was frequently not communicated in an accessible way by medical professionals to patients.

Dr Sarah Mackie, honorary consultant rheumatologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals said: "There is still a north-south divide in patient experience of PMR. In the North, it just seems that bit harder for patients to get diagnosed.

"Part of this is because people in the North on average have a larger number of medical conditions and this can make it hard to recognise PMR symptoms amongst all the other things."

Dr Mackie said this meant patients "wait longer in pain before they can get treatment".

She added: "Many patients also say that once treated they don't get enough ongoing support from their doctors."

Researchers said they wanted to raise awareness of the condition and challenge misinformation, as well as improve education for clinicians, in an effort to bridge the gap.

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