Arthritis affects 17 per cent of the Spanish population and costs 4,700 billion per year.

– according to the World Health Organization (who), arthritis is the fourth disease more quality of life remains the patients lived annually to

Barcelona, 2011-October symptomatic osteoarthritis affects more than seven million Spanish (1) adult and costs about 4.7 billion euros to the Administration (2) each year. Is the disease articulate more frequent now and expected that, in the next few years, can double the number of patients her suffering, due to the ageing of the population also is responsible for more than 30% of the occupational disabilityboth permanent as temporary at Spain, and leads to 35% of consultations in primary care (3).

However, it is not designed as a condition relevant to social, medical or economic level. For many years, arthritis has been perceived as an evil inevitable associate with aging and the physical wear and tear. But the reality is very different: this disease affects to young athletes, workers, menopausal women, overweight people and pensioners, among others, seriously worsening their quality of life.

That is why, on the occasion of the world arthritis day which was held on 12 October, Bioiberica Pharma leads a campaign to sensitize the population about the social and economic cost of this disease.

The most common rheumatic disease

Pain and functional disability. These are the main symptoms of arthritis, a chronic, inflammatory and degenerative locomotor disease due to wear and tear on joints (specifically of cartilage articulate). Arthritis is usually localized in the hands, knees, hip or spine. Causes pain, inflammation and prevents some movements such as for example, closing the hand or walking can perform normally. This disease especially affects those body parts that have to bear the weight, such as the knees.

1 According to the society Spanish of Rheumatology.

2. According to the ArtRoCad of the be and SEMERGEN 2009 study.

3 According to the guide of good clinical practice in arthrosis, Ministry of health, Dr. Francisco j. Pulido, 2004.

Most of the patients with osteoarthritis are 40 years or older, but we find signs of arthritis in young people, especially in athletes or people doing certain movements repeatedly, loading a joint in concrete, such as people working in construction or seamstresses.

There are certain activities associated with the development of arthritis:

1. Repetitive lifting of weight.

2. Excessive stretching of the articulation of repeatedly.

3. Inadequate postures at work.

4. Vibration (drills, sewing machines, machines punches).

5. The repetitive movements of the joints of the hands (in activities such as sewing) and sports activities in which we overloading a part of the body (such as the knee, the footballers).

A significant economic cost

The ARtRoCad study, prepared by the Spanish Rheumatology society (be) and the Spanish society of physicians primary care (SEMERGEN) on the use of health resources and the socio-economic impact of osteoarthritis of knee and hip in SpainOsteoarthritis costs Administration 4.738 million euros per year. This figure is equivalent to 0.5% of national GDP.

The annual cost means of osteoarthritis of the knee and Spain hip is 1.502 euro per patient, and most of the cost (47%) goes to the medical costs:

– 22% of the time of visit by specialists.

-13% to hospital admissions.

– 5% drugs.

The XXXII Congress of the society Spanish of Rheumatology (2006), explained that rheumatic diseases are the leading cause of permanent disability, and the third of temporary incapacity for work. In addition, 50% of the casualties by permanent disability caused by rheumatic diseases, correspond to patients with arthrosis, with the social and economic consequences that this causes.

The condroprotectores, the only specific for osteoarthritis treatment

Pharmacological treatment for the chronic phase of the disease is the SYSADOA (symptomatic slow acting drugs) or also called condroprotectores (protective drugs of articulation). It’s only specific drugs to treat arthritis in the long term because they act directly on the affected joint. They not only relieve pain and improve mobility, but it is proving have ability to attack the root disease, slowing down the deterioration of the joint. Among the SYSADOA or condroprotectores are drugs such as chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate and hyaluronic acid.

Bioiberica Farma

This expertise in the treatment of osteoarthritis has helped Bioiberica Farma occupies a leading position endorsed by numerous published clinical trials, research projects underway, the recognition of different societies scientific and medical, strict quality control chemical and biological production processes, the quality of their products and editing of publications specialised in chondroprotection.

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Referencia:

(1) according to the society Spanish of Rheumatology.

(2) According to the ArtRoCad of the be and SEMERGEN 2009 study.

(3) According to the Guide to good clinical practice in arthrosis, Ministry of health and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Francisco j.
Polished, 2004.