GLADERPO (Grupo Latino Americano de Estudio de Enfermedades Reumáticas en Pueblos Originarios) began in 2009. This group complies with the objective of performing epidemiological, anthropological and genetic studies related to rheumatic diseases in the indigenous peoples of Latin America, placed within the framework of a regional effort. Since 2023, GLADERPO is a new PANLAR study group.

Currently, studies have already been completed in 11 communities in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela, and 30 papers have been published in indexed journals.

The objectives of this group are:

• To estimate the prevalence of rheumatic diseases using the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) methodology.
• To describe illness experiences and the help-seeking process.
• To define priority problems related to the disabling effects of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and to identify possible solutions to these problems.
• To identify the regions of the genome associated with the presence of disease, susceptibility genes and variants that increase the risk of developing these diseases.
• To design community-based participatory (CBPR) strategy and community-based rehabilitation (CBR) program for indigenous people living with musculoskeletal diseases and rheumatic disease.
• To design and implement a program for the development of cultural competencies for health professionals and execution of a support network between the different levels of care with the aim of improving healthcare access.

You are welcome to become part of this new study group.

For further information, please contact the group coordinators.