The National Burden of OA

Osteoarthritis (OA) poses a significant burden on U.S. adults, according to this study, resulting in clinical, humanistic, and economic repercussions. The researchers evaluated weighted nationally representative 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to estimate the prevalence of OA in noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥ 18 years. These data were compared to data on non-OA adults in terms of clinical (pain interference with activities [PIA], functional limitations), humanistic (health-related quality-of-life [HRQoL]) and economic outcomes (healthcare costs, wage loss). An estimated 10.5% of adults have OA. OA patients, compared to those without OA, were significantly more likely to report moderate or severe PIA, functional limitations, and poor HRQoL. Total healthcare costs and lost wages in OA patients were $1,778 per person, compared to $189 per person among those without OA—totaling an estimated $45 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively, in national excess costs.

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