Osteoarthritis is a serious disease

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rheumatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease, affecting over 33% of individuals aged 65 and older, with a higher incidence in women.
• Risk factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and joint injuries are contributing to a rising prevalence of OA.
• OA significantly impacts quality of life, causing pain, functional limitations, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and reduced independence, leading to increased healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the growing burden of osteoarthritis (OA) and the challenges in managing patients with co-existing chronic conditions.
• To emphasize the need for more effective and safer treatment strategies for individuals with OA and comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of epidemiological data on OA prevalence and risk factors.
• Analysis of the impact of OA on patient quality of life and economic burden.
• Examination of treatment efficacy and safety in patients with OA and other chronic conditions, particularly cardiometabolic diseases.

Main Results:

• OA affects a substantial portion of the elderly population, with increasing prevalence linked to modifiable risk factors.
• OA patients experience significant functional limitations and economic costs, with a high comorbidity rate, especially cardiometabolic conditions.
• Current treatments, including exercise and self-management, offer only moderate effectiveness for symptomatic OA, particularly in patients with other chronic illnesses.

Conclusions:

• The rising prevalence and multifaceted impact of OA necessitate urgent development of improved therapeutic interventions.
• There is a critical need for enhanced research to identify more effective and safer treatments for the large population of OA patients managing other chronic health issues.