Osteoarthritis Article Summaries for Research Assignment - Healthcare

This assignment presents summaries of three research articles on osteoarthritis (OA). The first article, by Johnson and Hunter (2014), explores the epidemiology of OA, estimating its prevalence and identifying risk factors such as gender, age, genetics, obesity, and physical activity. The second article, by Murphy and Helmick (2012), focuses on the impact of OA in the United States, highlighting its prevalence as a major cause of disability and associated chronic comorbidities. The third article, by Neogi (2013), examines the epidemiology and impact of pain in OA, correlating chronic pain with functional limitations and identifying risk factors that increase pain severity. The summaries provide concise overviews of each article's key findings and contributions to understanding OA.

Running head: SUMMARY
Osteoarthritis
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SUMMARY
Johnson, V. L., & Hunter, D. J. (2014). The epidemiology of osteoarthritis. Best practice
& research Clinical rheumatology, 28(1), 5-15.
The researchers identified osteoarthritis (OA) prevalent among an estimated 15% of
the global population and also elaborated on the impact that the disease creates on the lower
extremities comprising of the hips and the knees. They stated that the approximately 19% and
6.8% adults reported presence of radiographic knee and hand OA. Gender (females), age
(menopause), genetics, obesity, and diet were identified as the major risk factors. Moreover,
physical and occupational activity, post traumatic knee injury, muscle strength and local
changes in the pathology also increases the risk of OA among individuals. The authors also
identified targeting of structural lesions as major therapeutic avenues for treatment.
Murphy, L., & Helmick, C. G. (2012). The impact of osteoarthritis in the United States:
a population-health perspective. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 112(3),
S13-S19.
The article elaborated on the fact that OA is one of the most common factors for
disability and is widely prevalent in the US. Upon conducting a research, they found that an
estimated 27 million adults, residing in the US were affected with different types of OA in
the year 2005. Moreover, the article also suggested that 4.9% adults (9.3 million) in the US
aged more than 26 years suffered from symptomatic knee OA. The authors also associated
lifetime risk with values of 1 in 2. Some of the chronic comorbidities associated with the
condition were identified to be diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, hyperglycaemia, and
increased triglycerides.
Neogi, T. (2013). The epidemiology and impact of pain in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis
and Cartilage, 21(9), 1145-1153.

2SUMMARY
The authors illustrated the fact that an estimated 27 million adult residing in the US
and 8.5 million in the UK have been diagnosed with OA, based on physical findings and their
symptoms. They also stated that the prevalence of OA often increases with advancing age
and 33.6% older adults suffer from the condition. The article formed a clear correlation
between chronic pain and osteoarthritis and subsequent functional limitations due to impaired
mobility. Some of the risk factors that increased severity of pain were recognised as analgesic
treatment expectations, prior experience, genetic susceptibility, sociocultural environment
and the current mood of the affected people.

3SUMMARY
References
Johnson, V. L., & Hunter, D. J. (2014). The epidemiology of osteoarthritis. Best practice &
research Clinical rheumatology, 28(1), 5-15.
Murphy, L., & Helmick, C. G. (2012). The impact of osteoarthritis in the United States: a
population-health perspective. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 112(3), S13-
S19.
Neogi, T. (2013). The epidemiology and impact of pain in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and
Cartilage, 21(9), 1145-1153.