Article Abstract:
The General Accounting Office has attempted to limit the number of new beneficiaries of the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) disability programs. Discrepancies between the clinical condition of patients and the awarding or withholding Social Security Disability have been noted. To further investigate these areas, claimants citing rheumatic disease (chronic inflammatory disorders associated with damage to joints and other tissues) were analyzed. Fifteen percent of all applicants for SSA disability claim to suffer from musculoskeletal impairment; thus, the problem is one of considerable magnitude. New disability claimants who said they had arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus (304 people) were included in the study; subjects were gathered from applicants at seven district offices in two states. The claimants were examined according to standard SSA protocols, then underwent two additional examinations: one by a rheumatologist, and one to determine work capacity. A discussion is presented of the SSA's definition of disability and of the methodology used in the two additional examinations. Of the 304 claimants, 58 refused to participate; 69 were not eligible for the study for other reasons; and 79 dropped out during the study. The study was completed by 98 people, 52 of whom listed musculoskeletal disease as their main diagnosis. Results showed agreement between the judgments of the SSA and the examining rheumatologists for 35 subjects (67 percent of the cases). According to the SSA, 25 were unable to work (11 for medical reasons alone); according to the rheumatologists, 30 were unable to work. Rheumatologists judged as unable 11 of the 27 judged able to work by the SSA. Results from the evaluations of subjects' work capacity did not agree with the SSA's evaluations of work ability at any more than the chance level. Overall, the findings indicate a fairly good level of agreement between SSA's decisions and decisions by clinicians. Including results from rheumatologists' examinations and work capacity evaluations could help the SSA in making decisions about who should receive disability. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
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Article Abstract:
People with Lyme disease who are treated may have some recurring symptoms but will not develop serious musculoskeletal or neurologic problems. This was the conclusion of researchers who compared functional status and intellectual function in 186 people with a history of Lyme disease and 167 people who did not. There was no difference in intellectual function or musculoskeletal problems in the two groups. However, Lyme patients who were not successfully treated still had occasional symptoms such as fever, headache, photosensitivity or neck stiffness.
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Article Abstract:
Patients with a history of treated Lyme disease seem no more likely to develop heart abnormalities than patients with no history of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by ticks. Researchers evaluated heart symptoms and ECG findings of 176 patients treated for Lyme disease and 160 healthy individuals. There were no significant differences in ECG findings or heart symptoms between both groups.
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