4. Osteoarthritis-Related Deaths Do Happen
People don’t think of osteoarthritis as a condition that results in death. The disabling effects of the disease result in a lack of mobility and structural balance. Therefore, around 500-deaths occur annually related to osteoarthritis. A related cause of death includes falls and slips in seniors.
A fall is a terrifying event for seniors suffering from poor skeletal health as a result of osteoarthritis. A senior may break their hip in the fall are quire hospitalization and surgery. Seniors are sensitive to anesthetic and may pass away during the invasive surgery, particularly hip surgery.
Other causes of death related to osteoarthritis may include organ failure, from the overuse or misuse of NSAIDs. NSAIDs are toxic on the liver and their continual use over decades to treat pain and inflammation can result in liver disease.
Studies also show that knee osteoarthritis has a strong association with the development of the cardiovascular disease. Women experiencing knee pain have almost twice the risk of early death and three times the risk of dying from cardiovascular events such as heart attack.