We are facing one of the most common rheumatic diseases. Thus, the data suggests that about 29.35% are above 40 years of age Suffering from osteoarthritiswhich affects more than 7 million people in Spain and more than 600 million people worldwide 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 one Increase in cases of osteoarthritis in young peopleAs the experts explain. “Traditionally it is a consideration diseases associated with aging, But now osteoarthritis also affects people in their 30s and 40s. “This phenomenon is attributed to a combination of factors,” highlights Dr. Francisco CastroRheumatologist at the Tecnon Medical Center in Barcelona and one of the coordinators of the ‘IV Osteoarthritis Course of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology’ recently held in Madrid in collaboration with Grünenthal.
Rheumatic diseases remain largely undiagnosed and, at times, seem trivial by associating them with old age.
Why is there a higher incidence of osteoarthritis in the younger population?
What might be the effect of this increase in young people? There are common customs in our daily lives that may have something to do with it. “In addition to this Genetic predisposition And sure Patterns of workgrowth of Sports activities involving joint overload has emerged as a risk factor for early osteoarthritis. “Excessive practice of high-impact sports without adequate preparation contributes to premature joint wear,” the expert points out.
And that’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 at a young age: increase in obesity, What happens is, in the doctor’s words, “a significant risk factor”. The reasons? “It not only increases the load in load-bearing joints such as the knee and hip, which favors primary osteoarthritis, but it is also associated with osteoarthritis in non-load-bearing joints through the metaflammation mechanism (metabolic inflammation that accompanies metabolic pathology)”, explains the expert.
© Getty ImagesThis is how it manifests
Osteoarthritis is common Heavily used joints (hands, knees, feet…), produces slow and progressive deformations and produces a “Mechanical” pain: It worsens with movement and improves with rest. The most important thing is Healthy lifestyle habits: An adequate weight that does not overload the joints and regular exercise to strengthen muscles and improve posture. During periods of pain, with medical control, analgesics are used as needed and occasionally anti-inflammatory drugs are used. And in severe cases, surgery may be considered.
Increased sports activity involving joint overload has emerged as a risk factor for early osteoarthritis.
Joint regeneration in osteoarthritis
Starting from this foundation, it is imperative to progress to improving diagnosis and above all, Treatment of this disease. An example is Regenerative therapy In osteoarthritis. “They look for a more comprehensive approach, where the goal is not only to relieve symptoms, but to act on various affected joint structures, thus altering the course of the disease. Among the candidates for disease modification 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,” elaborated Dr. Lola Fernández de la Fuente Barson from the Rheumatology Service of Quironsalud Infanta Luisa Hospital (Seville). Who can benefit from this type of therapy? Experts clarify that they are especially indicated for them Patients who are in the early or intermediate stages of the diseaseAs its potential for tissue regeneration is greater in joints with less irreversible structural damage. Patients with rapidly progressive features or a more inflammatory phenotype may particularly benefit from these treatments.
What benefits do they provide? “Revitalization is among the main benefits of therapy Sustained pain relief, joint function improvement and the potential to slow disease progression. Although the risks of this therapy are generally low, there are challenges regarding protocol standardization and variability of results. Conclusive evidence of long-term structural regeneration in cartilage is still lacking, but many studies show functional and analgesic improvements that offer an alternative for patients who do not respond to other treatments,” he noted.
Rheumatic diseases at a young age
We cannot lose sight One in four people over the age of 20 in Spain suffers from rheumatic diseases. According to the EPISER survey of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, from which children and adolescents are not spared, which affects about 11 million people in our country. “An unthinkable picture, which should be paid attention to because it threatens to become a real public health problem,” explains Sagarrio Bustabad DrPresident of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER).
And this is not a less problem, because despite the second reason for consultation between primary care and the first Disability in the Western world, Rheumatic diseases are largely unknown and sometimes, There is a tendency to trivialize them by associating them with old age. “Pathologies such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or Sjögren’s syndrome usually appear between the ages of 25 and 45, a period that can condition the personal and professional decisions of those affected by them,” emphasizes Dr. Bustabad.
