Prognosis
Osteoarthritis itself is not life threatening, but a person's quality of life can significantly deteriorate from pain and loss of mobility. The negative effects on activities and physical and mental health are significant regardless of age, educational level, or gender. Only heart disease has a greater impact on work. Five percent of those who leave the work force do so because of osteoarthritis. Unless alleviated by medication or corrected by surgery, advanced osteoarthritis can force the patient to forgo even relatively low-impact activities, such as walking. No treatment can cure osteoarthritis, and none can alter its progression with certainty, but many available therapies can relieve symptoms and significantly improve the quality of life.
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