Le fardeau de l’arthrose

Osteoarthritis is a condition that is found worldwide, and the number of affected patients is set to rise given the ever ageing population and the fact that obesity is becoming increasingly common. The main symptoms are pain and limited joint movement, accompanied by an often significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients. Its mechanism is poorly understood and there is currently no specific treatment for the condition. Treatment is therefore primarily symptomatic: for the pain and any incapacity, often with the surgical introduction of implants being required. As a result, there are significant social and economic costs, both of which are difficult to quantify. In this article, we are attempting to assess around the world in general, and in France in particular, the economic cost and the personal and social burden of osteoarthritis.