Joint pain and osteoarthritis (OA) in older people

Symptomatic osteoarthritis is common in the general population, increasing in prevalence with age, and is one of the 10 leading causes of years lived with disability. Against the background of an ageing population and the rise in risk factors such as obesity, osteoarthritis has emerged as a public health priority. Yet osteoarthritis is still often misrepresented as simply a ‘degenerative disease’, synonymous with getting old, and for which nothing can be done. Primary care is the setting for the majority of formal health care for people with osteoarthritis. Up to 1 million people consult their general practitioner each year with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and the actual figures may be far higher when one considers early or undiagnosed cases labelled as ‘joint pain’. 

Our research strategy aims to improve the management of joint pain and osteoarthritis in primary care, and provide a better understanding of the nature, causes, ‘natural history’ and consequences of joint pain and osteoarthritis  [MRC and Arthritis Research UK programme grants]. The clinical and cost-effectiveness of a range of interventions is being investigated in an NIHR funded programme of research on the optimal management of older people with OA and joint pain in primary care.

Our current joint pain / osteoarthritis studies:

Observational Studies

  • North Staffordshire Osteoarthritis Project (NorStoP)
    Funded through two MRC Programme Grants (2000 – 2005 and 2004 – 2010)
  • Clinical Assessment Studies of the Knee, Hand and Foot (CASK, CASHA, CASF)
    Funded through two MRC Programme Grants (2000 – 2005 and 2004 – 2010) and an Arthritis Research UK Programme Grant (2008 – 2013)
  • Prognosis of joint pain in General Practice (PROG-RES)
    Funded through Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Fellowship Award and Arthritis Research UK Post-doctoral progression award (2005 – 2009 and 2009 – 2011)
  • Cardiovascular Disease and osteoarthritis co-morbidity (2C)
    Funded through NIHR Post Doctoral Fellowship Award (2008 – 2010)

Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials

  • Self-management of osteoarthritis of the hand (SMOOTH)
    Funded through an Arthritis Research UK Project Grant (2007 – 2010)
  • A ‘model consultation’ to deliver optimal primary care for OA (MOSAIC)
    Funded through an NIHR Programme Grant (2008 – 2013)
  • Intervention to optimise long-term adherence to exercise (BEEP trial)
    Funded through an NIHR Programme Grant (2008 – 2013)
  • Screening for anxiety and depression in patients with OA (POST trial)
    Funded through an NIHR Programme Grant (2008 – 2013)

Qualitative studies

  • Wellness & Resilience Study
    Funded by the ESRC (2008 – 2010)
  • Self Management in Chronic Knee Pain
    Funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Scheme (2008 – 2011)