We are facing one of the rheumatic diseases more prevalent. Thus, the data suggests that around 29.35% of those over 40 years of age suffer from osteoarthritiswhich affects more than 7 million people in Spain and more than 600 million people in the world. And when you think about this pathology, an image of an elderly person usually comes to mind. The truth is that it not only affects this profile of the population in its maturity, but currently early detection has revealed a increase in osteoarthritis cases in younger peopleas the experts explain. “Traditionally it was considered a disease linked to advanced age, But now osteoarthritis also affects individuals between the ages of 30 and 40. “This phenomenon is attributable to a combination of factors,” highlights the Dr. Francisco Castrorheumatologist at the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona and one of the coordinators of the ‘IV Osteoarthritis Course of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology’, which was recently held in Madrid, with the collaboration of Grünenthal.
Rheumatic diseases continue to be largely unknown and, at times, they tend to be trivialized by associating them with aging.
Why are there more cases of osteoarthritis in the young population?
What could be influencing this increase in prevalence among younger people? There are common customs in our daily lives that may have something to do with it. “In addition to the genetic predisposition and certain work patternsthe increase of sports activities that involve joint overload has emerged as a risk factor for early osteoarthritis. The increasing practice of high-impact sports, without adequate preparation, contributes to premature joint wear,” indicates the specialist.
And it’s not the only reason. There is another health problem, a true silent epidemic that is playing a fundamental role in this increase in osteoarthritis cases at younger ages: the increase in obesity, which becomes, in the doctor’s words, “a crucial risk factor”. The reasons? “Not only does it increase the load on load-bearing joints such as the knees and hips, favoring early osteoarthritis, but it is also associated with osteoarthritis in non-load-bearing joints through metaflammation mechanisms (the metabolic inflammation that accompanies metabolic pathologies)” , explains the specialist.
© Getty ImagesThis is how it manifests
Osteoarthritis usually appears in heavily used joints (hands, knees, feet…), produces slow and progressive deformation, and produces a “mechanical” pain: It worsens with movement and improves with rest. The most important thing are the healthy lifestyle habits: an adequate weight that does not overload the joints and regular sports to strengthen the muscles and improve posture. In periods of pain, with medical control, analgesics are used as needed and occasionally anti-inflammatories. And in severe cases, surgery may be considered.
The increase in sports activities that involve joint overload has emerged as a risk factor for early osteoarthritis.
Joint regeneration in osteoarthritis
Starting from this basis, it is essential to continue advancing in improving the diagnosis and, above all, the treatment of this disease. An example are the regenerative therapies in osteoarthritis. “They seek a more comprehensive approach, where the aim is not only to alleviate symptoms, but also to act on the different affected joint structures, thus modifying the course of the disease. Among the candidates for modifying the disease are biological agents, as well as innovative surgical procedures such as joint distraction. Furthermore, therapies with stem cells, PRP and exosomes are showing promising benefits in modulating inflammation and tissue regeneration,” details Dr. Lola Fernández de la Fuente Bursón, from the Rheumatology Service of the Quirónsalud Infanta Luisa Hospital (Seville). Who can benefit from this type of therapy? The experts clarify that they are especially indicated for those patients who are in the initial or moderate stages of the diseasesince its potential to regenerate tissue is greater in joints with less irreversible structural damage. Patients with rapidly progressive features or a more inflammatory phenotype could particularly benefit from these treatments.
What benefits do they provide? “The main benefits of regenerative therapies include sustained pain relief, improvement in joint function and the potential to slow disease progression. Although the risks of these therapies are generally low, there are challenges regarding standardization of protocols and variability in results. There is still a lack of conclusive evidence of long-term structural regeneration in cartilage, but many studies show functional and analgesic improvements that offer an alternative for patients who do not respond to other treatments,” he points out.
Rheumatic diseases at an early age
We cannot lose sight of one in four people over 20 years of age in Spain suffers from a rheumatic disease. From which children and adolescents are not exempt, which represents close to 11 million people affected in our country, according to the EPISER study of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology. “A not inconsiderable figure, which should be paid attention because it threatens to become a real public health problem,” explains the Dr. Sagrario Bustabadpresident of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER).
And it is no less a problem, because despite being the second cause of consultation in Primary Care and the first in disability in the western world, rheumatic diseases continue to be largely unknown and, sometimes, there is a tendency to trivialize them by associating them with aging. “Pathologies such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritisscleroderma or Sjögren’s Syndrome usually appear between the ages of 25 and 45, a period that can condition the personal and professional decisions of people who suffer from them,” insists Dr. Bustabad.