Information for Medical Professionals

Older osteoarthritis sufferers ignoring medication therapy

Older osteoarthritis sufferers are ignoring the medication therapy advice they are being given by their doctor or pharmacist, it has been claimed.

According to new research published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, while many osteoarthritis sufferers take onboard lifestyle guidance and actively change the way they live their lives, when it comes to medication they tend to make their own choices.

The researchers behind the new study followed 190 patients with an average age of 63 years, and they found that six months after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee, 90 per cent of patients had consulted their doctor or pharmacist about the condition.

"The majority of study participants were overweight and may have already been contemplating lifestyle changes. Receiving the diagnosis of a chronic condition may have provided motivation to increase their activity level, helping to gain some control of their condition and improve symptoms," the researchers said.

However, when it came to medication, only a quarter had tried the most highly recommended drug.

Earlier research published in the journal showed that many elderly people with osteoarthritis are taking the wrong medication for their condition.

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