Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, the most frequently diagnosed diseases at Reumasalud 2012

Seven rheumatologists will offer today free advice for the prevention and treatment of rheumatic diseases. It is Reumasalud, a project by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology that is taking place today at the Centro Comercial Aragonia at Zaragoza.

More than a hundred citizens, most of them women older than 60, have visited Reumasalud to receive medical advice and ask questions mostly related to osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. During these consultations, physicians detected a number of untreated cases of rheumatic diseases, that were directed to their rheumatologists in order to begin proper treatment.

Reumasalud was inaugurated this morning by Dr. Eduardo Úcar, president of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, Dr. Concha Delgado, president of the organizing committee of the 38^th national congress of the SER, and by Dr. Josep Vergés, medical and scientific director of Biobérica Farma. At the health care meeting point they could view in situ sonography or densitometry tests. Dr. Úcar declared that “it is indispensable to raise awareness about that disease so that we can treat it as soon as possible, if we are to improve long-term evolution of rheumatic diseases and avoid unnecessary damage”. In Spain there are some 11 million people suffering from these chronic diseases. Rheumatic diseases are little known among the general public, and therefore they are often diagnosed too late.

This year’s edition of Reumasalud –carried out in collaboration with Bioiberica Farma- puts the focus in osteoarthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting some 10% of the Spanish population, that is, some five million people. That disease damages joint cartilage and causes pain, stiffness and loss of mobility.

Reumasalud 2012 has been hosted by the Centro Comercial Aragonia at Zaragoza (44, Avda. Juan Carlos I), that has kindly made their premises available to the Sociedad Española de Reumatología.