J Korean Med Assoc.
2024 Oct;67(10):641-648. 10.5124/jkma.2024.67.10.641.
Efficacy of disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis
- Affiliations
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- 1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- KMID: 2560528
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2024.67.10.641
Abstract
- Background
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis, and its prevalence is steadily increasing owing to its association with aging. Therefore, understanding and implementing appropriate treatments for osteoarthritis in clinical practice is becoming increasingly important. Additionally, there is active research on a new approach for treating osteoarthritis: disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs).
Current Concepts
Several global osteoarthritis treatment guidelines exist; this article introduces the guidelines of the American College of Rheumatology and Osteoarthritis Research Society International, which are among the most widely recognized. A common theme across various guidelines is that exercise and weight loss are the primary recommended treatments. As for pharmacotherapy, the top recommendations include topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and oral NSAIDs. Although multiple classes of drugs such as DMOADs are being actively researched to slow the progression of osteoarthritis, no drug has yet been confirmed to be clinically effective or approved for use.
Discussion and Conclusion
A deeper understanding of osteoarthritis treatment can help prevent malpractice and improve patient outcomes. While current treatments focus primarily on symptom management, the development of effective DMOADs holds promise for fundamentally altering the disease course and improving joint function and quality of life.
