COVID-19 Poses Negative Effects on Patients with Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain

World Arthritis Day is celebrated every year on the 12th of October and it is an important global awareness day established to give voice to people affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). For this occasion, an online survey was conducted by ELMA Research for Viatris across Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and China to investigate the emotional, practical and physical impact that COVID-19 restrictions have had on the quality of life of Asian osteoarthritis and joint pain sufferers.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is 1 of the 10 most disabling diseases in developed countries and its prevalence rises with age and increasing body mass index. It is anticipated that the prevalence of OA will increase to approximately 350 million people by 2025. OA leads to a reduced quality of life, and in patients with a disability, it is a predictor of premature death and is associated with an increased mortality.

To address the challenges faced with the world’s aging population, the World Health Organization and United Nations have developed an initiative entitled “Decade of Healthy Ageing”. This initiative promotes integrated and long-term care, for the management of chronic conditions.

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Overall joint pain is considered a problematic condition. One third of survey respondents including 17% in Malaysia felt that the condition had a significant impact on their quality of life during normal times, but has grown to 43% during COVID-19.

The containment measures that became necessary during the global pandemic had a psychological and physical impact on people suffering from OA and joint pain. Globally, about 4 in 10 people find it harder to cope with their condition both emotionally and physically. In Malaysia, 40% and 39% of respondents had a hard time managing their condition from an emotional and practical point of view, respectively, due to the added pressures related to the imposed measures, such as social isolation and mobility restrictions.

Mind-body exercises, weight control and a healthy nutrition plan are an integral part in the management of joint pain and OA diseases. COVID-19 restrictions impacted the possibility to play sports and take part in leisure activities such as going on walks or meeting with other people, which contributed to making daily life harder for patients.

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Osteoarthritis can lead to premature death which is why action towards prevention should be highly encouraged. Early diagnosis and early access to treatment, together with a greater awareness of the disease and the ability to promptly recognize the symptoms are crucial.

The difficulties faced by people suffering from OA and joint pain during COVID-19 led to a growing need for support from caregivers. About half of the survey respondents globally relying on a caregiver (55%) declared needing more support in carrying out daily activities during the restrictions. Malaysia is under the global average with a percentage of 54%. However, four in ten struggled to get the help that they needed and one in ten were unable to access any support. In South Korea, 28% of respondents said that they didn’t get any support.

People suffering from joint pain need to be able to consult with their doctors regularly to manage the disease and follow a correct treatment plan. During COVID-19, for most sufferers the quality of these relationships remained the same or even improved. The role of pharmacists also did not change in terms of consultation frequency and proactive treatment recommendation. However, what did change globally were the channels of contact with doctors, with an increasing use of the telephone (51%) and digital channels (43%) as virtual consultations. In Malaysia these percentages reached 55% and 39%, respectively. Only in South Korea, face to face remains the predominant channel (60%).

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When asked to think about the future in the “new normal” after COVID-19, there is an expectation by most (65%) for face-to-face appointments with a secondary role for online and telephone consultations. However, even though COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted, the impact of the pandemic is not over yet and nearly half of the survey respondents including 47% in Malaysia expect it will take another year for life to return to normal.

“Viatris’ mission is to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life”, explained Jeff Bote, Country Manager, Viatris Malaysia and Brunei. “True to this mission, we are committed to making Osteoarthritis a priority so that it is diagnosed and treated as early as possible, thereby directly impacting patients’ quality of life.”

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