TO ASSESS THE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS
About Author:
Nishith Sheth
M.Sc in Clinical Research
Cranfield university
sheth10687@gmail.com
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is one type of degenerative joint disease and also known as chronic musculoskeletal disease and it occurs mainly in elderly patients with the severe cause of disability. There are approximately 30 million persons affected with severe osteoarthritis and about 26 million persons are affected with severe osteoarthritis in United States only. The approximate annual cost to the public society in medical care is expected to reach 100 billion dollars by the end of 2020. From this much of cost, most of the cost is spent only in finding out the new diagnosis and treatment for this severe disease and also for the prevention of side effects. Today till 2010, 50% of the persons with the age over 75 suffer from the knee osteoarthritis. 80% of the aged persons with knee osteoarthritis feel difficulty in daily routine activities, while 20 % of the aged persons with mild osteoarthritis feel no difficulty in their daily routine activities.
In this disorder, the joint loses the slippery cartilage those results from ‘wear and tear’ on a joint. Thus the joint becomes large, thick and painful. Thus the bone near the cartilage tries to change and produce overgrowth of the bone. That’s why the tissue near the bone becomes inflamed and ligaments lose and joint muscle becomes weak. So the people with osteoarthritis feel pain when they are doing their normal routine activities.