The epidemiology and impact of pain in osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability worldwide, largely due to pain, the primary symptom of the disease. The pain experience in knee OA in particular is well-recognized as typically transitioning from intermittent weight-bearing pain to a more persistent, chronic pain. Methods to validly assess pain in OA studies have been developed to address the complex nature of the pain experience. The etiology of pain in OA is recognized to be multifactorial, with both intra-articular and extra-articular risk factors. Nonetheless, greater insights are needed into pain mechanisms in OA to enable rational mechanism-based management of pain. Consequences of pain related to OA contribute to a substantial socioeconomic burden.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis; Pain; Risk factors.

Copyright © 2013 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Schematic illustrating the multifactorial nature of pain in OA, with complex inter-relationships between various risk factors, and the potential wide-ranging effects of OA pain.