Navigating the field of osteoarthritis: American and European interprofessional approaches.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that causes pain, stiffness, impaired joint motion, and muscle weakness, which negatively impacts movement, making people more sedentary and contributing to depression and disability as highlighted by speaker Dr. Aileen Ledingham. Major risk factors include, gender, age, obesity, joint injuries, genetics and metabolic disorders. She also stated that by 2050, one billion people are expected to be affected by OA, with the knee being the most impacted joint, followed by the spine.¹

EULAR´s approach to osteoarthritis (OA) treatment emphasizes biopsychosocial assessment and shared decision-making, focusing on individualized plans that include information and education, tailored exercise, healthy weight management, and the use of assistive devices when needed. These recommendations closely align with the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available for managing pain effectively^.1

Professor Dr. Nina Østerås addressed the challenge of delivering personalized, evidence-based care for people with osteoarthritis (OA). She highlighted several established models designed to support guideline implementation, such as the BOA program (Sweden, 2008), which inspired GLA:D (Denmark, 2013) and AktivA (Norway, 2015). These programs combine professional training, patient education, and individualized exercise therapy, and have now expanded internationally. Despite their proven value, less than 50% of patients receive core treatment based on these guidelines, while more than 60% receive non-recommended interventions, which underscores the need to improve implementation of evidence-based OA care.^2,3

This was also noted by speaker Valentina Schmolik, who analysed data from the Austrian Better Life Osteoarthritis Registry (BLOAR). She reported that 16% of patients had reduced their working hours or lost their jobs due to OA, reflecting the substantial functional and socioeconomic impact of the disease. At the same time, she highlighted a significant gap between real-world management and EULAR guideline recommendations—particularly the underuse of weight-management strategies and the frequent reliance on non-evidence-based treatments such as vitamin supplements³

Professor Dr. Ali Mobasheri stated that biomarkers may help detect early osteoarthritis (OA) changes. He added that understanding OA phenotypes and endotypes, together with establishing early classification criteria, is essential for a personalized care approach. He also emphasized the role of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors in OA development, advocating for more tailored treatments. Future progress in OA care will require increased funding, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a redefined strategy for early detection and intervention^.4

Bibliography

1. Ledingham A. How to prevent the development and progression and decrease the burden in daily life. In: Navigating the field of osteoarthritis: American and European interprofessional approaches. EULAR 2025 – European Congress of Rheumatology; 2025 Jun 11–14; Barcelona, Spain.
2. Østerås N. The right care at the right time. In: Navigating the field of osteoarthritis: American and European interprofessional approaches. EULAR 2025 – European Congress of Rheumatology; 2025 Jun 11–14; Barcelona, Spain.
3. Cunningham J, Doyle F, Ryan JM, Clyne B, Cadogan C, Cottrell E, Murphy P, Smith SM, French HP. Primary care-based models of care for osteoarthritis: a scoping review. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2023 Aug;61:152221
4. Schmolik V, et al. OP0236-HPR Health services usage in the Austrian osteoarthritis registry show a high level of non-evidence-based therapies. Ann Rheum Dis. 2025;84(Suppl 1):196-197.
5. Mobasheri A. New paths and potential game changers for the future osteoarthritis management and treatment. In: Navigating the field of osteoarthritis: American and European interprofessional approaches. EULAR 2025 – European Congress of Rheumatology; 2025 Jun 11–14; Barcelona, Spain.