Keele researcher co-leading new study into why osteoarthritis impacts patients differently
A Keele professor is co-leading a new research consortium investigating why osteoarthritis can affect some patients in such different and diverse ways.
10 million people in the UK live with osteoarthritis (OA), yet people experience the condition in different ways that many clinical tests fail to capture.
To answer the question of why that is, the SOLVE consortium (Stratification of Osteoarthritis to Promote Living Well and Treatment Effectiveness), led by Keele University and the University of Leeds, and enabled by £3m funding from Arthritis UK, aims to understand why the current ‘one size fits all’ approach to OA is not working.
Researchers across the UK will join forces in this groundbreaking study to find out how biological factors, social factors and life events influence the condition.
Current treatment plans rarely consider lifestyle factors, menopause, or joint injury, which can impact disease severity. In most cases, this generalised approach will not be the most effective way to reduce the symptoms of pain, stiffness and swelling which have huge impacts on people’s everyday lives.
SOLVE will focus on identifying different types (“subgroups”) of OA to better match treatments to individuals. This research will be guided by patient voices throughout all stages of research to drive tailored and improved patient outcomes.
Zeyd Kateregga, patient partner on the SOLVE consortium said: “After my diagnosis, the exercises and pain relief I was given hadn't worked. Keyhole surgery helped, but 10 years later my symptoms worsened - I couldn't walk 20 minutes without being in lots of pain and taking strong pain killers.
“OA has really impacted my life; I joined gym classes with other people who live with OA. They're aged between 18 and 80 and we all experience the condition in our own way.
“I try to stay positive even though my experience with healthcare hasn't always been great. Knowing that SOLVE is taking a compassionate and informed approach to researching OA gives me hope that things are changing for the better.”
SOLVE will gather a comprehensive understanding of OA by dividing research into four key areas:
- Analyse the different subgroups of OA
- Study how life events impact OA
- Identify risks of disease progression
- Study how social factors impact OA
Professor Melanie Holden (pictured), researcher in osteoarthritis rehabilitation and physiotherapist at Keele University, is one of the co-leads of the consortium alongside Professor Philip Conaghan from the University of Leeds.
Professor Holden said: "The new Arthritis UK Consortium, SOLVE, is an exciting programme that will, for the first time, bring together previously separate fields, data, and expertise to create the evidence needed to improve care and outcomes for people living with osteoarthritis.
“By putting people with lived experience at the heart of the consortium and collaborating with implementation scientists from the start, we will ensure our findings are relevant and actionable.”
Professor Lucy Donaldson, Director of Research at Arthritis UK, said: “We are proud to fund research that is operating at the forefront of medical advancements, that listens to patient voices and is committed to improving the very limited number of treatment options available.
“SOLVE will not only improve outcomes for those who face daily challenges from managing a complex and often-debilitating condition, but also improve knowledge amongst healthcare professionals, and inform on wider Government MSK policy, truly driving positive change.”
