The impact of osteoarthritis remains a major challenge for healthcare systems worldwide with approximately 528 million people affected. The global prevalence of hip and knee OA is approaching 5% and expected to increase further with the aging population. The increasing rates of obesity in adults, combined with lack of physical activity and joint injuries are also contributing to the rise in OA incidence. Osteoarthritis is a serious condition which has substantial implications on one’s day-to-day functioning. It is associated with other diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and back pain all of which leads to an increase in mortality.

Dr. Gillian Hawker is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, at the University of Toronto. She is active staff in Rheumatology at Women’s College Hospital, where she is a clinician-scientist at the Women’s College Research Institute. She is a senior scientist at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and adjunct senior scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. In July 2014, she was appointed the Sir John and Lady Eaton Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto (U of T).

RESOURCES

• OARSI white paper - osteoarthritis as a serious disease

CONNECT WITH GILLIAN

• Twitter: @UofTDoMChair
• Email: g.hawker@utoronto.ca

CONNECT WITH US

• Twitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorg
• Email: hello@jointaction.info
• Website: www.jointaction.info/podcast

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