Carpal Diem!
A new, large-scale study found that drugs such as Ozempic and Vegovi can significantly reduce knee pain for people with moderate to severe osteoarthritis.
osteoarthritisThe most common form of arthritis is caused primarily by the wear and tear of the protective layer of cartilage at the ends of our bones – like a worn-out tire.
Dr. Vinay K. agarwalhip and knee reconstruction specialist NYU Langone’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery, recently reported Post“Osteoarthritis is the most common hip jointDue to which there is pain in the waist and sides of the hips, and knee jointcausing pain in the front, side or side Behind the knees.”
In the latest study, researchers hoped that semaglutide drugs, which Mimic the body’s natural GLP-1 hormone And were initially developed to treat diabetes, which may help reduce pain in osteoarthritis patients.
The results proved to be better than expected.
Dr. Bob Carter, deputy director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, said the new York Times This week, “The magnitude of the improvement is so extensive that we have not seen it with any drug before. His knee pain reduced by about 50%. It is huge.”
Published on Wednesday New England Journal of MedicineA 68-week study conducted by Vegov and Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk tracked 407 obese patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
To join, participants had to meet certain criteria, such as morning stiffness and Knees that pop or creak loudly.
At the beginning of the study, researchers used a 100-point pain scale to calculate functionality and stiffness. Participants reported an average pain level of 70.9 points.
“They were really in pain,” Dr. Henning Bledal, the study’s lead investigator and a rheumatologist at Copenhagen University Hospital, told the Times. “They can’t exercise. You are stuck on your knees like this.”
Participants were predominantly women, with a mean age of 56 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 40.3.
BMI of 30 or more considered fatWhereas BMI of 40 or more is considered severely obese.
All participants were subjected to exercise counseling and calorie restriction and were randomly given placebo or Wegovi, which is prescribed for weight loss in adults.
The semaglutide group lost an average of 13.7% of their starting weight, while the placebo group lost 3.2%.
While the weight loss in the semaglutide group is consistent with the typical effects of these drugs, the level of pain reduction surprised the researchers.
At the study’s conclusion, the placebo group reported a 27.5-point reduction in pain, while the semaglutide group reported a 41.7-point reduction.
Experts say this dramatic reduction in pain after knee surgery is best complemented by other courses of treatment, including steroid injections or over-the-counter pain relievers. which can damage internal organs over time,
“The good news is that surgery works for most people,” Carter said. “The bad news is that it is very expensive. “We desperately need an effective way to treat knee pain.”
Some factors that increase the risk of osteoarthritis, such as age and genetic predisposition, are beyond our control, but other factors such as obesity and exercise are also included.
As The Post first reportedResearch shows that people who frequently cycle are significantly less likely to develop osteoarthritis by age 65.
Obesity, in particular, increases the risk of osteoarthritis and its associated pain. studies show Each pound of extra body weight can increase the pressure on the knee joints, causing four to six times more force on those joints.
Semaglutide may be twice as effective as a treatment for osteoarthritis. It helps patients lose weight while reducing inflammation. These drugs activate specific T cells, key white blood cells of the immune system, which may have anti-inflammatory effects.
This latest development adds another potential benefit to the growing list of ways semaglutide may improve overall health.
Recent studies have shown Medications such as Wegovi and Ozempic may Help fight kidney disease And may be beneficial in preventing and treating substance abuse.
In a clinical trialUse of Wegovi was associated with improved exercise capacity in people with diabetes and heart failure. in March, Vegovy was approved To reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other serious cardiovascular problems in overweight or obese patients.
Early research has also suggested that semaglutide may protect against neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, meaning that drugs like Ozempic could potentially prevent alzheimer’s,
