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Osteoarthritis on the rise in UAE: expert

ABU DHABI - Osteoarthritis has become a leading cause of disability in the UAE, accounting for half of all chronic conditions in people 65 years of age and above, according to an expert.

The prevalence of osteoarthritis in the UAE has increased over the past years, especially among the elderly, because of age-related changes in the joint, said Dr Bahaa Khair El Din, Orthopaedic-Traumatologist at Jebel Ali Medical Centre in Dubai.

Osteoarthritis, which is a type of arthritis caused by breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage (substance that serves as a 'cushion' between the bones of the joints) of one or more joints, has become a priority for health research worldwide, Dr Khair told Khaleej Times.

He said in the UAE, some 25 per cent of people over the age of 60 have significant pain and disability caused by osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative arthritis commonly affecting the joints of hands, feet, spine and large weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees.

Globally, the disease is affecting millions of people, whereby the alarming rate of patients with osteoarthritis has been reported in 10 per cent of the general population and up to 50 per cent in elderly people, he said.

Elaborating on the age-related chronic disease, Dr Khair said osteoarthritis could be indicated by symptoms like gradual or subtle onset of deep aching. Basically, the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis may include painful joint swelling, morning stiffness, limited movement and grating of the joint in motion, he said.

"The most common factor that increase the risks of developing osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the joint which may develop as a result of trauma to the joint, occupational overuse or mal-alignment of the joints, said Dr Khair.

On the disease management, he said there has been some recent advancement in the treatment of osteoarthritis. For instance, over the years, doctors often used to prescribe traditional 'Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)'or other painkillers for joint pain and arthritis sufferers.

These treatments might result in developing serious side effects such as stomach perforations and ulcers, said Dr Khair.

He said long time use of traditional NSAIDS could lead to side effects like ulcers, bleeding and damage to the stomach lining.

The latest arthritis research and guidelines has shown that there are some very good alternatives to traditional painkillers, which are effective in relieving the pain as well as safer on the stomach, he said.

It is imperative that doctors increase the awareness level of osteoarthritis patients about suitable medicines available in the pharmaceutical market, to ensure the safety of patients, said Dr Khair.