Early Detection of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling condition that affects over three million Canadians; despite much research, we do not have a complete and coherent picture of the natural history and population health impact of osteoarthritis. It is estimated that by age 70, almost 85% of Canadians are afflicted with OA resulting in a large personal burden, as well as one for the whole of Canadian society. Within 15 years, the number of Canadians afflicted with this condition is predicted to increase by 50%. It is doubtful that our current health care system can keep pace with this increasing demand unless new procedures for providing care are developed.
The cause of osteoarthritis is still unknown; defining the risk factors for this disease is critical to allow identification of high risk individuals within the general population. Through a unique combination of epidemiology and advanced medical imaging, CHHM is pioneering techniques for the early detection of osteoarthtis. This research will allow the impact of osteoarthritis to be reduced by identifying modifiable risk factors that can be targeted, just as cancer reduction has targeted smoking.
Providing information for healthcare policymakers:
There is no primary prevention strategy for osteoarthritis and no macro-economic studies, evaluating different preventive and treatment strategies, have been undertaken. Using state-of-the-art tools for modeling complex chronic diseases, CHHM researchers are developing a micro-simulation model of osteoarthritis that will be the world's largest clinical and epidemiological database for modeling the natural history of osteoarthritis; simulating the incidence and progression of osteoarthritis, health outcomes, health care utilization, and costs. The results of this study will be useful to policymakers, researchers, as well as clinicians and patients facing difficult treatment decisions; providing information crucial for better planning of healthcare services, development of preventive strategies, and optimization of medical and surgical treatment of this disease.
CHHM researchers are also investigating the potential for alternative health care strategies. For example, one study underway is assessing a pilot program involving pharmacists, physiotherapists and family doctors to reduce the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis in patients.
Please click on the links below to find out more details about this research.
Population-clinical simulation model of osteoarthritis: development and applications.
Pharmacist-initiated intervention in knee Osteoarthritis (PHIT-OA).
Development of novel imaging techniques:
CHHM is a leader in the development of novel imaging techniques for the detection of cartilage degeneration and joint kinematics. A key barrier to understanding the links between mechanics and osteoarthritis is in the limitations of current medical imaging techniques which are not adequate to detect early degeneration of cartilage. CHHM is devloping new imaging techniques that will provide an inexpensive tool for screenimh patients at high risk within the general population for early detection of osteoarthritis and subsequent progression of the disease.
These new techniques, will be important for assessment of prevention and treatment strategies, such as the evaluation of disease-modifying drugs in clinical trials for osteoarthritis, and will have tremendous potential to reduce both disability and health care costs.
Please click on the links below to find out more details about this research.
Assessing links between mechanics and cartilage changes at the hip using MRI: method development and application to studying common hip deformities.
Development of a model for the MRI progression of knee osteoarthritis.
Identifying the risk factors for osteoarthritis:
The onset of early osteoarthritis and its subsequent progression have been poorly studied; the development of MRI, new biomarkers of bone and joint damage and repair, and the development of new statistical modeling techniques for the evaluation of OA are critically required. Even small changes in the disease course of osteoarthritis will have a major impact at the societal level.
CHHM researchers are leading a large study to determine the key factors for assessment that will provide the best methods for identifying individuals at risk for osteaorthritis within the general population. As well, specific studies assessing individual factors thought to be amongst the most important causes of osteoarthritis are being assessed. For example, while high levels of physical activity, both occupational and sports-related, are thought to be directly related to the onset of osteooarthritis, at this time, the relationship between moderate physical activity over lifetime, musculoskeletal health and quality of life is unknown.
Please click on the links below to find out more details about this research.
Physical activity and joint health: An internet based cohort study.
