Between 2004 and 2020, osteoarthritis increased by at least 40% in England. This means that in 2020, more than 1 percent of all adults and more than 2.5 percent of those over 65 years of age have been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis.
Arthritis is a term that includes a variety of conditions that cause pain and swelling in the joints. The most common are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis. The sooner people with inflammatory arthritis receive specialized care, the better their treatment will be.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Ian Scott from Keele University said: “Our findings have important implications for the NHS. [den National Health Service; das staatliche Gesundheitssystem in Großbritannien und Nordirland]. Several studies have shown that the sooner people with arthritis see a specialist, the better treatment they receive. It is very important that people with new inflammatory arthritis or an episode of arthritis be evaluated quickly. Enabling this is critical. “
Noting that people over the age of 65 are particularly affected, he warned: “In particular, we must make sure that digitalization in health care does not leave the elderly with arthritis. Other studies have shown that they are less likely to use the Internet and that they are skilled digital essential for access to online health services.”
Which: DOI 10.1016 / j.lanepe.2022.100519