Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disorder globally; Spain is no exception. In this article, find information regarding OA, the causes, treatment and more.
Prevalence of OA in Spain
According to Statista, a renowned market and consumer data company, over 1 million women between 75 and 84 years were diagnosed with OA in 2017. Because the degenerative disorder affects both genders, as well as young people, the number of Spaniards with OA is definitely higher.
Another study by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology puts the prevalence of osteoarthritis in Spain at 29.35% in one or more of the locations sampled. From the same study, hip osteoarthritis had a prevalence of 5.13%, while knee osteoarthritis prevalence was 13.83%. Hand osteoarthritis, on the other hand, had a 7.73% prevalence.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that causes pain and inflammation in joint areas. The pain and inflammation arise when the joint cartilage wears out. There are different types of osteoarthritis, including cervical, lumbar, hip, knee, and hand osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis manifests itself in different ways depending on the type, and most importantly, the extent of the damage. The classic symptoms are joint pain and inflammation, tenderness, weakness and muscle wasting, loss of flexibility, grating or cracking sound in the joints, etc.
There are several osteoarthritis causes classified as either primary or secondary. Primary causes of OA include old age, and that’s why it’s called a degenerative disorder. On the other hand, secondary OA causes include injury, obesity, inactivity, genetics, and inflammation. For the record, both secondary and primary OA causes involve the breakdown and wearing of cartilage tissues.
Osteoarthritis Treatment Options in Spain
There is no treatment for osteoarthritis in Spain, but there are several ways of managing the condition depending on the type, and the extent of tissue damage. After a diagnosis by a rheumatologist, the best way to manage the condition can be determined.
The available OA management options include the use of prescribed painkillers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical and occupational therapy, and surgery.
But then, the OA management costs are quite high and increase with comorbidity, poor health status and the severity.
Wrap Up
Indeed, this degenerative disorder is prevalent in Spain. There is no known treatment for the condition, and to make it worse, appropriate medical attention and a management model is still not accessible for many patients. But the good thing is that there is enough information in the public domain regarding how to manage OA, and lifestyle changes that can keep the condition at bay.