Osteoarticular

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a disorder involving mobile joints and characterized by cellular stress and degradation of the extracellular matrix initiated by micro and macro injury that activates non-adaptive repair responses, including pro-inflammatory pathways of innate immunity.

The disease first manifests as a molecular change (altered metabolism of the joint tissue) followed by anatomical and/or physiological changes (characterized by cartilage degradation, bone remodeling, osteophyte formation, joint inflammation and loss of normal joint function)¹.

In Portugal, the prevalence of osteoarthritis (of the knee and/or hip and/or hand) is estimated at 19.1% of the population². In the Portuguese population between 50 and 64 years of age, almost a third (29.7%) have osteoarthritis and more than half of these (51.8%) are not in a paid work situation³.

Osteoarthritis must be considered an important and serious disease, given that⁴:

• it is highly prevalent globally, affecting 240 million people worldwide, being twice as common in women as in men;
  both the prevalence and risk factors for the disease (in particular, population aging and obesity) are increasing;
• has a significant impact in terms of years of life lost due to disability – 80% of patients will have movement limitations and 25% will be unable to carry out the main activities of daily living;
• significant impact on and due to comorbidities, with 59% to 87% of patients having at least one other significant chronic disease, the most common of which are cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension;
• is associated with an increased risk of premature death;
• it is associated with loss of productivity, early retirement and loss of retirement savings;
• represents a high economic burden for individuals and society;
• its natural history is characterized by progression without known remission and there is still no known cure

References:

1. OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International). Standardization of Osteoarthritis Definitions. Disponível em: https://oarsi.org/research/standardization-osteoarthritis-definitions

2. Branco JC, Rodrigues AM, Gouveia N, et al. Prevalence of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and their impact on health-related quality of life, physical function and mental health in Portugal: results from EpiReumaPt- a national health survey. RMD Open. 2016;2(1):e000166. Published 2016 Jan 19. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2015-000166.

3. Laires PA, Canhão H, Rodrigues AM, Eusébio M, Gouveia M, Branco JC. The impact of osteoarthritis on early exit from work: results from a population-based study. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):472. Published 2018 Apr 11. doi:10.1186/s12889-018-5381-1.

4. OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International). Osteoarthritis: A Serious Disease, Submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. December 1, 2016.