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Osteoarthritis Has Significant Impact on Everyday
Lives: New Survey
Council on the Aging Finds Sufferers Gain Average of
42 Pounds
June 14, 2005 - A new national survey released
today by The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) revealed surprising
findings on the serious effects joint pain and stiffness caused by
osteoarthritis (OA) have on the everyday lives and overall health of the
millions of Americans with the debilitating disease. It is estimated
that 40 percent of senior citizens over age 65 suffer from some form of
arthritis.
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Osteoarthritis
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What Is Arthritis?
Although the term literally means
joint inflammation, arthritis really refers to a group of more
than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that can cause pain,
stiffness and swelling in the joints. Certain conditions may
affect other parts of the body-such as the muscles, bones, and
some internal organs-and can result in debilitating, and
sometimes life-threatening, complications. If left undiagnosed
and untreated, arthritis can cause irreversible damage to the
joints.
The two most common forms of the
disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, have the
greatest public health implications, according to the Arthritis
Foundation. (For more on other causes of joint pain, see "Other
Forms of Arthritis and Related Conditions.")
Osteoarthritis, previously known
as "degenerative joint disease," results from the wear and tear
of life. The pressure of gravity-the load of living-causes
physical damage to the joints and surrounding tissues, leading
to pain, tenderness, swelling, and decreased function.
Initially, osteoarthritis is noninflammatory and its onset is
subtle and gradual, usually involving one or only a few joints.
The joints most often affected are the knee, hip and hand. Pain
is the earliest symptom, usually made worse by repetitive use.
Osteoarthritis affects 21 million people, and the risk of
getting it increases with age. Other risk factors include joint
trauma, obesity, and repetitive joint use.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an
autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's own immune system
mistakenly attacks the synovium (cell lining inside the joint).
This chronic, potentially disabling disease causes pain,
stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints.
While the cause remains elusive,
doctors suspect that genetic factors are important in rheumatoid
arthritis. Recent studies have begun to tease out the genetic
characteristics that can be passed from generation to
generation. However, the inherited trait alone does not cause
the illness. Researchers think this trait, along with some other
unknown factor-probably in the environment-triggers the disease.
But rheumatoid arthritis can be
difficult to diagnose early because it may begin gradually with
subtle symptoms. According to the CDC, this form of arthritis
affects more than 2 million people in the United States, and two
to three times more women are affected than men. –
FDA Consumer Magazine |
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Conducted on behalf of NCOA by Harris Interactive(R),
the survey found that respondents who gained weight due to their OA
reported
> an average weight gain of 42 pounds since
their diagnosis, which can be attributed in large part to their
inability to exercise as much as desired, a feeling expressed by 75
percent of all respondents;
> 82 percent of those who gained weight reported
a decrease in self-esteem due to the weight gain;
> loss of sleep, which can take a serious toll
on personal and professional relationships, productivity, and public
safety, was identified in the survey as another negative consequence of
OA, with 37 percent of sufferers reporting two or more hours of sleep
lost per night due to pain caused by OA.
"The results of this study confirm just how serious
the effects of joint pain and stiffness are for the more than 20 million
Americans who suffer from OA, making clear the need to educate OA
sufferers about their options," said James Firman, president and CEO of
NCOA.
Additional Study Findings
> From a list of
nine effects of growing old, 87 percent ranked their
joint pain and
stiffness among the top five least welcome; joint pain
and stiffness
was ranked #1 most frequently.
> More than half
(53 percent) believe OA has had a moderately or
severely
negative impact on their lives.
> 41 percent watch
more TV because of pain caused by OA.
> 35 percent have
avoided long car rides because of OA; 32 percent have
chosen not to
take a trip.
> 33 percent have
chosen not to go to a store because they could not
find parking close to the entrance.
The survey also investigated the profound
transformation in treatment trends among OA sufferers, finding that more
than two in five (43 percent) of those who have previously used
prescription medications have stopped using them. In addition, millions
of OA sufferers are dissatisfied with their current treatments and are
possibly under-treating or not treating their joint pain, according to
the survey.
Compared to one year ago, higher percentages of OA
patients aged 50-65 are pursuing other treatment options, such as
relaxation techniques, physical therapy and herbs/natural remedies.
However, they also feel their joint pain is less controlled (16 percent
reported their pain was "not very controlled" in 2004 vs. 24 percent in
2005) and are more likely to report that their OA is severe (26 percent
reported severe joint pain in 2004 vs. 35 percent in 2005). Three in
four (75 percent) patients are interested in more aggressive treatments
for their OA.
NCOA Commences Patient Education Campaign to
Help Fill the Information Gap
Given the clear and immediate need to provide OA
sufferers with more information regarding the effective treatment of
their joint pain and immobility, NCOA is partnering with the National
Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) and DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. to
roll out a comprehensive patient awareness campaign that aims to
responsibly educate OA sufferers about the full range of treatment
options, including joint replacement, which can help relieve pain and
improve function for patients with OA.
"Educational efforts such as this continue to be an
important part of NCOA's mission," said Mr. Firman. "The negative
effects of OA highlighted in the survey released today represent a
serious health concern that must be addressed if we are to help improve
the health, independence, and overall quality of life of older
Americans."
Patient events held at senior centers throughout
the country will feature unique and engaging educational tools developed
in collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons to provide OA sufferers with
the information they need about the progressive nature of the disease
and the treatments available to them. A custom-designed board game will
foster learning, dialogue, and a sense of community, allowing attendees
to gain a greater understanding of OA as well as the benefits of various
treatments. In addition, a screening video will guide attendees through
a series of movements, such as walking, driving, gardening, and golfing
to help them identify their level of pain and immobility, so that they
can initiate productive conversations with their doctor about treating
the disease. At each event, a physician, a nurse specialist, and an OA
sufferer who has benefited from joint replacement will be on hand to
answer attendees' questions and provide additional information.
For more information about OA, sufferers can
also access the campaign resources at 1-888-273-9029 or
www.jointpainoptions.com.
"As the Baby Boomer generation ages, many Americans
will experience joint pain and loss of mobility caused by OA. In fact,
by age 50, most Americans will have clinical and/or radiographic signs
of OA," said Dr. William Healy, chairman of the Department of
Orthopaedic Surgery at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. "Given
this, it's important for patients to understand the degree of their pain
and immobility and discuss the disease with their doctor, so that he or
she can present them with appropriate treatment options. While
non-operative treatment is very important during the early stages of
arthritis, at some point, the benefit of medication and other therapies
may diminish. When that happens, joint replacement can help alleviate
pain and restore mobility."
For those with severe OA who are no longer
achieving pain relief from over-the-counter drugs, prescription
medications, or other non-surgical treatments, joint replacement offers
an alternative. The procedure, which is conducted on approximately
662,000 people in the United States each year, involves removing damaged
joint surfaces and resurfacing them with metal and plastic implants.
After joint replacement, patients can resume routine movements of
everyday life, such as climbing stairs, tying shoes, and getting up from
a chair. Improved technology and implant designs have revolutionized
joint replacements, allowing for natural movement of the joint after
surgery.
The performance of joint replacements depends on
age, weight, activity level, and other factors. There are potential
risks, and recovery takes time. People with current infections or
conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have this surgery. The
patient may experience implant complications such as loosening,
fracturing, or wearing of the components, which could result in pain,
stiffness, or dislocation of the joint. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can
tell if joint replacement is right for the patient.
Survey Methodology
Harris Interactive(R) conducted the survey online
between April 6 and 14, 2005, on behalf of NCOA, with funding provided
by DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., among a nationwide cross section of 1,000
U.S. adults (aged 18 and over) who have been diagnosed with OA. The
sample was recruited to align with quotas established according to the
age and gender proportions of OA sufferers indicated in the National
Center for Health Statistics/National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey (NHANES). A similar survey was conducted in 2004 of 531 OA
sufferers aged 50-65. The margin of error for comparing the two surveys
is between +/- 7-9 percent.
Though this online sample is not a probability
sample, in theory, with probability samples of this size, Harris
Interactive estimates with 95 percent certainty that the results for the
overall sample have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage
points. Sampling error for the following sub- sample results: those aged
50-65 (397) and those who have gained weight due to their OA (556) is
higher and varies.
About The National Council on the Aging
Founded in 1950, The National Council on the Aging
is a national network of organizations and individuals dedicated to
improving the health and independence of older persons, and to
increasing their continuing contributions to communities, society, and
future generations. For more information on NCOA, visit www.ncoa.org.
The NCOA president and CEO is James Firman.
About The National Association of Orthopaedic
Surgeons
The National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON)
was established in 1980 to promote education and research related to
nursing care of persons with orthopaedic conditions. For more
information on NAON, visit www.orthonurse.org or call 1-800-289-6266 or
email
naon@orthonurse.org.
About DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson
company, is a driver of transformational change in orthopaedic care,
with a focused commitment to help surgeons achieve excellence in
surgical practice. For more information, visit www.depuyorthopaedics.com.
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