Osteoarthritis occurs earlier, at 30 and 40 years of age.

When we talk about osteoarthritis, we talk about aging joints. Or at least that’s what it was until now, and that’s what the over 7 million people suffering from it have been told over and over again. But the reality is different. Early detection has revealed an increase in cases of osteoarthritis in young people aged 30 to 40 years.

This was stated by experts gathered at the “IV Course on Osteoarthritis of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology”, which took place this weekend in Madrid. “Traditionally it was considered a disease associated with old age, but now people between the ages of 30 and 40 also suffer from osteoarthritis,” explains Francisco Castro, a rheumatologist at the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona and one of the coordinators of the course.

Why was the onset of osteoarthritis delayed earlier? “In addition to genetic predisposition and a certain work schedule, an increase in the number of sports activities associated with joint overload has become a risk factor for early osteoarthritis. The growing practice of participating in high-intensity sports without proper preparation contributes to premature wear and tear of joints,” says Francisco Castro.

To this we must add “the rise of obesity, which represents a decisive risk factor. This not only increases stress on weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips, contributing to early osteoarthritis, but is also associated with osteoarthritis of non-weight-bearing joints through the mechanisms of metainflammation (metabolic inflammation that accompanies metabolic pathologies). »

New treatments

This course also discussed new treatments for this rheumatic disease, which currently has no cure. Lola Fernandez de la Fuente from the Rheumatology Department of the Quironsalud Infanta Luisa Hospital (Seville) explained that “regenerative therapy for osteoarthritis requires a more comprehensive approach, the goal of which is not only to relieve symptoms, but also to influence various diseases.” affect joint structures, thereby changing the course of the disease.”

De la Fuente mentioned stem cell, PRP and exosome therapies, which “show promising benefits in modulating inflammation and tissue regeneration.” These types of therapy are especially indicated for those patients who are in the initial stages of the disease. , as its tissue regeneration potential is greater in joints with less irreversible structural damage. Patients with rapid progression or a more inflammatory phenotype may particularly benefit from this treatment.

In his opinion, “the main benefits of regenerative therapy include sustained pain relief, improved joint function and the ability to slow disease progression. Although the risks of these treatments are generally low, there are problems associated with standardization of protocols and variability in results. Conclusive evidence of long-term structural cartilage regeneration is still lacking, but many studies show functional and analgesic improvements that offer an alternative for patients who do not respond to other treatments.”