One in three patients with chronic pain suffers from osteoarthritis

He 33% of patients with chronic pain also suffer from osteoarthritisas revealed by Barometer of chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis. Situation analysis of its impact in Spainprepared by the Grünenthal Foundation, the Pain Observatory of the University of Cádiz and the International Osteoarthritis Foundation (OAFI).

The report shows that the prevalence of osteoarthritis is higher in women (35.6%) that in men (29.4%). By age, the disease mainly affects people of between 55 and 75 years (53.5%), followed by the 76 to 85 year old group (44.3%) and the 35 to 54 year old group (22.7%).

The authors of the barometer warn that osteoarthritis has a direct cost greater than 5,800 million euros annuallywhich represents 0.4% of national GDP and 5.8% of total health spending.

A progressive disease with great functional and emotional impact

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that occurs with low intensity chronic inflammationaffecting the cartilage, subchondral bone and synovial capsule. Provokes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints and periarticular tissues, which limits mobility and the ability to perform daily tasks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In advanced stages, pain can become chronic and manifest even at rest or during sleep, with a severe functional and emotional impairment.

Up to a 60.7% of patients with chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis describe their pain as “intense“, a 29.2% as “moderate” and a 6% as “unbearable“In addition, a 67.7% claims to suffer sleep disorders.

As for the pain location43.4% suffer from it in the limbs either jointsfollowed by backache (23.5%), widespread demonstrations (19.2%), neck and cervical (8.6%), with an average duration of 8.6 years.

The osteoporosis is the main comorbidity linked to osteoarthritis, affecting 99.3% of patients with chronic pain. They follow the low back pain (68.2%), the cervical pain (56.2%), the muscle contractures (54.4%), the shoulder pain (39.5%), the rheumatoid arthritis (34.8%), the sciatica (34.2%) and the migraine or chronic headaches (28.2%), among others.

Despite this, one in four patients (25%) does not know the cause of his illnesswhich makes its diagnosis and treatment difficult.

Limitations in daily life

The barometer also reflects the activities most affected by pain. Among them, stand out getting out of bed or chair (71.6%), feel (56.2%), dressing and undressing (54.6%), lie down (53.7%), shower or bathe (41.5%), go to the bathroom (32%) and feed (25.4%).

These limitations have a direct impact on the autonomy and quality of life of the affected people, especially the elderly.

In the last year, a 26.4% of patients have been sick leave due to pain associated with osteoarthritis, with an average duration of 5.4 months. Furthermore, the 44.3% has had to abandon your occupationand the 11.4% has changed jobs.

By autonomous communities, Castile-La Mancha presents the higher prevalence of osteoarthritis and chronic pain (41%), followed by Murcia Region (40.9%) and Rioja (37.7%).

Traumatology, the most visited specialty

The report points out that the 42.8% of people with chronic pain and osteoarthritis have visited the health system in the last month. The Primary Care is the most used level of care (85.7%), followed by Specialized Care (71.3%), Emergencies (43%) and Hospital Care (27.5%).

Among medical specialties, Traumatology is the most visited (57.4%), followed by Physiotherapy (37.2%), Rehabilitation (34.9%), Rheumatology (34.5%), Internal medicine (34.1%), Pain Unit (29.1%) and Neurology (22.9%).