Arthritis with osteoporosis crippled the elderly during Covid-19 pandemic: A silent killer?

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the elderly both directly by the affection due to infection and indirectly by the aggravation of the pre-existing medical comorbidities. The management of the chronic diseases took a relative back-seat for an active treatment protocol strategy. The clinicians emphasised on the conservative measures to manage arthritis and osteoporosis. The delayed assessment had a profound negative impact with significant progression of arthritis and osteoporosis amongst the elderly. The crippling effect of COVID-19 pandemic in the elderly presented furthermore with the advanced stages of arthritis and worsened osteoporosis for the management. The delay in timely offer of surgery for the arthritic joint compromised the functional outcomes. There has been a silent worsening with increased morbidity and mortality.The literature review and guidelines formulated emphasized on the timely remedial measures either surgical or conservative for the management of arthritis and osteoporosis in an elderly to halt the silent progression, allow a healthy lifestyle with an improved quality of life. The elderly should have priority for an individualized management strategy even during the pandemic to reduce this “silent” morbidity and mortality.