Osteoarthritis in people over 16: diagnosis and management—updated summary of NICE guidance

• Published in: BMJ (Online) Vol. 380; p. 24
• Main Authors: Wood, George, Neilson, Julie, Cottrell, Elizabeth, Hoole, Stephen P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 24.01.2023; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adults; Analgesia; Arthritis; Body weight; Body weight loss; Clinical practice guidelines; Diagnosis; Diagnostic tests; Exercise; Humans; Medical diagnosis; Narcotics; Obesity; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - diagnosis; Osteoarthritis - therapy; Overweight; Pain; Pain perception; Patients; Practice; Quality of life; Weight control
• ISSN: 1756-1833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p24

Correspondence to G Wood george.wood@nice.org.uk What you need to know Osteoarthritis is a clinical diagnosis that can be made without imaging in people who are 45 or over, have activity related joint pain, and have either no morning joint related stiffness or morning stiffness that lasts no longer than 30 minutes Therapeutic exercise is important for people with osteoarthritis to reduce pain and improve physical function and quality of life Analgesia should only be used for the shortest possible time, primarily to support therapeutic exercise Osteoarthritis is a common condition that causes joint pain and stiffness and often has a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. Clinically important, but not statistically significant, benefits in quality of life were also observed in patients with osteoarthritis who exercised. Explain that: doing regular and consistent exercise, even though this may initially cause pain or discomfort, will be beneficial for their joints long term adherence to an exercise plan increases its benefits by reducing pain and increasing functioning and quality of life. Appropriate support to lose weight through selection of an achievable weight loss goal and the support of a formal weight loss programme should be provided, in line with NICE’s guideline recommendations on obesity.5 For people with osteoarthritis who are living with overweight or obesity: advise them that weight loss will improve their quality of life and physical function, and reduce pain support them to choose a weight loss goal explain that any amount of weight loss is likely to be beneficial, but losing 10% of their body weight is likely to be better than 5%.