By JointReplacement.com

On June 14, 2005, The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) released the results of a national survey of osteoarthritis (OA) patients conducted by Harris Interactive^®. The new study yielded surprising findings on the serious effects joint pain and stiffness caused by Osteoarthritis have on the everyday lives and overall health of the more than 20 million Americans with the disease. It also investigated the profound transformation in treatment trends among OA sufferers in the last year. Below are some of the key findings.

• Nearly three in five (56 percent) respondents reported gaining weight, with an average weight gain of 42 pounds since their diagnosis.
• Nearly two-thirds of all respondents (64 percent) reported they were very or extremely active prior to their diagnosis. Now, only 13 percent are very or extremely active.
• Weight gain and the inability to exercise have significant effects on self-esteem:
• • Of the 56 percent who reported they’ve gained weight as a result of their condition, 82 percent say it negatively affected their self-esteem.
  • Of the three-quarters (75 percent) who reported that they have limited their exercise as a result of their condition, roughly seven in ten (69 percent) reported that it has negatively affected their self-esteem.
• Three in five (59 percent) respondents reported losing sleep due to their OA, and of those 62 percent reported losing two or more hours of sleep per night.
• More than half (53 percent) of all respondents believe OA has had a moderately or severely negative impact on their lives.
• Two in five (41 percent) watch more TV because of pain caused by OA.
• More than one-third (35 percent) has avoided long car rides because of OA; almost another one-third (32 percent) has chosen not to take a trip.
• Further, one-third (33 percent) has chosen not to go to a store because there was not parking close to the entrance.
• The basic activities of everyday life, such as walking, running, housework, and the ability to exercise, are impacted greatly for many OA sufferers. In fact, nearly three in four (72 percent) respondents report being limited in doing everyday or routine things.
• Among a list of 26 activities, the activities listed most often as very or extremely difficult because of OA are:

1.      Exercising to keep fit or lose weight (47 percent)

2.      Hiking or cycling outdoors (45 percent)

3.      Standing in line (40 percent)

4.      Playing sports such as golf or tennis (39 percent)

5.      Going up and down stairs (39 percent)

6.      Gardening (38 percent)

7.      Sitting for long periods of time (31 percent)

8.      House cleaning (31 percent)

9.      Working (25 percent)

10.  Traveling (22 percent)

11.  Sleeping (20 percent)

12.  Craft hobbies like woodworking or sewing (18 percent)

13.  Getting in and out of a car (17 percent)

OA Sufferers: Feeling “Old” Before Their Time

• When respondents were asked to rank their top five concerns about getting older from a list of nine, joint pain and stiffness was ranked #1 most frequently. The ranking follows:
• 1. Joint pain and stiffness
  2. Loss of independence
  3. Gaining weight/metabolism slow-down
  4. Limited mobility
  5. Forgetfulness
• OA is not a disease that affects only those we perceive as “elderly.” Compared to last year, significantly more patients ages 50-65 are rating their OA as “severe.” In addition, 55 percent of OA sufferers age 18-49 reported that regular movement is difficult and/or limited as a result of their OA.
• Nearly three in 10 (27 percent) respondents reported feeling old and/or limited most of the time or always because of their osteoarthritis.

Profound Changes Underway in How OA Sufferers Treat Their Disease

• More than two in five (43 percent) of those who have previously used prescription medications have stopped using them.
• There has been an increase over the course of the past year in OA sufferers age 50-65 that are pursuing other non-operative therapies. Additional therapies include over-the-counter medications (+14 percentage points), relaxation techniques (+17 percentage points), weight loss (+9 percentage points), physical therapy (+9 percentage points), herbs/natural remedies (+8 percentage points) and nutritional supplements (+7 percentage points).
• Compared to one year ago, a higher percentage of OA patients age 50-65 feel their joint pain is less controlled (16 percent reported their pain was “not very controlled” in 2004, vs. 24 percent in 2005), and they are more likely to report that their OA is severe (26 percent reported severe OA in 2004 vs. 35 percent in 2005).
• >Three in four (75 percent) patients are interested in more aggressive treatments for their OA.
• When asked how much respondents felt they knew about joint replacement surgery, almost three in five (59 percent) reported knowing very little.

Survey Methodology

Harris Interactive^® conducted the survey online between April 6 and 14, 2005, on behalf of The National Council of the Aging (NCOA), with funding provided by DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., among a nationwide cross section of 1,000 U.S. adults (aged 18 and over) who have been diagnosed with OA. The sample was recruited to align with quotas established according to the age and gender proportions of OA sufferers indicated in the National Center for Health Statistics/National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A similar survey was conducted in 2004 of 531 OA sufferers age 50-65. The margin of error for comparing the two surveys is between +/- 7-9 percent.