In 1998, approximately 5 per cent of prescriptions (by volume and by cost) dispensed in Scotland were for musculoskeletal and joint disorders. The cost of treating arthritis was estimated in 1990 to be approximately 4 per cent of the total UK NHS budget. In the UK, treatment of musculoskeletal disorders formed 6 per cent of hospital expenditure and 15 per cent of primary care and social service expenditure in 1996. OA of the hip affects 10 per cent of persons aged >80 years and has been linked to occupation. OA of the knee is twice as prevalent in women as in men and is increased by female obesity. Therefore, half the arthritic population is under 65 years old. One-third of the arthritic population are middle-aged adults (aged 44-65) and one in six is a young adult (under 44 years). In a recent Scottish survey, half the sampled adult population reported chronic pain and about one-third of those (equivalent to 16 per cent of the general population) gave arthritis (excluding back pain) as the cause. Most sufferers reported “difficulties” in six activities of daily living connected with functional mobility and dressing, while about 2 per cent of the population reported “dependency” in relation to help being required to get in or out of bed, dressing, getting to and using the toilet and getting out of the house. When surveyed, the elderly are inclined to under-report the physical restrictions in daily activities, and hence the importance of arthritis within the population is probably underestimated.Ī large survey in one NHS area using questionnaires and interview assessments reported that 5-8 per cent of the adult population suffered disability associated with an arthritic condition. 6Ī true understanding of the impact of arthritic conditions depends on an interpretation of the meaning and the severity of disability. Approximately one in eight of the adult UK population report themselves to be disabled and almost 50 per cent of these individuals report a musculoskeletal complaint, of which arthritis is the most common. Public health implications of arthritisĪrthritis and its associated conditions are the most frequent self-reported chronic illnesses in Britain. Pharmaceutical care is therefore central to the treatment of these patient groups. Long term outcomes rely on an integration of drug treatment with exercise, lifestyle adjustment and physiotherapy. However for most patients, management of arthritis relies on optimising the use of pharmacotherapy. Surgery and joint replacement offer suitable treatment options for localised joint involvement. The burden of OA management falls largely within primary care services. The high prevalence of OA makes it the most common single cause of arthritic disability in the population, with chronic pain, social isolation and depression contributing to reduced quality of life. Progressive, chronic, systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease with involvement of sacroiliac joints and spine, absence of microbial infection and various extra-articular manifestationsĪbnormality of urate metabolism resulting in deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals in the synovial fluid, soft tissue and urinary tract, causing an inflammatory response Peripheral inflammatory polyarthritis with presence of psoriasis without rheumatoid nodules Inflammatory joint disease with chronic synovitis in children in whom the onset of disease occurred before the age of 16 Inflammatory arthritic conditions, which include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile chronic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, tend to be diagnosed earlier and affect about 2 per cent of the population 5ĭegenerative damage and loss of articular cartilage, especially in the weight bearing joints and hypertrophy in the subchondral (to which the joint is attached) boneĬhronic systemic inflammatory disease characterised by potentially deforming symmetrical polyarthritis and extra-articular features Osteoarthritis (OA) is most common and affects as many as 10-20 per cent of those aged >64 years. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services ResearchĪrthritis, which includes osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis and gout, affects about 10 per cent of the adult UK population, although estimates of prevalence are made difficult by diagnostic uncertainties.International Journal of Pharmacy Practice.Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship.
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