Pharmacotherapeutic considerations and options for the management of osteoarthritis in women

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that leads to the destruction of articular cartilage and joints. As the most common joint disorder, osteoarthritis poses a great burden to the healthcare system. Most importantly, osteoarthritis is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a wide range of clinical features, phenotypes, and treatments. The burden of osteoarthritis is not equally distributed between men and women. Women have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis, with worse symptoms, and poorer outcomes.

Areas covered

In this paper, the authors discuss pathophysiological considerations such as the wide spectrum of OA phenotypes. Women share many OA phenotypes with men including genetics, age, and trauma. Specific phenotypes from metabolic, anatomical, and hormonal influences vary greatly between the two sexes. This paper discusses the various current pharmacological treatment options for osteoarthritis including NSAIDs, Acetaminophen, Opioids, Duloxetine, SYSADOAs, monoclonal antibodies, intra-articular injections and hormonal therapy.

Expert opinion

Further investigations of the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis are necessary to improve treatment options specific to women. As our understanding of the complex biology of osteoarthritis and the information surrounding it improves, newer and more effective treatments may decrease the suffering of osteoarthritis in a more efficient and less costly way.

KEYWORDS:

• Osteoarthritis
• women
• pharmacotherapy
• joints

Article Highlights

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a clinically significant disease with greater burden on women.

• OA is not as simple as the traditional classification of primary or secondary disease. Rather it should be classified into its array of diverse phenotypes.

• Our increasing understanding of the complex biology of OA has transformed the realm of therapies.

• Traditional therapeutic management of OA has focused on pain management and have significant adverse effects

• An increased focus on SYSADOs (Symptomatic slow-acting drugs for OA) has led to promising but limited results.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer Disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript has not been funded.