The National Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions

The National Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions (the Centre) was established at the AIHW in 2005 to undertake surveillance and monitoring of various bone and joint conditions in Australia. The Centre monitors and reports in particular on the four focus areas of osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis under the National Health Priority Area (NHPA) initiative by Australian Health Ministers.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the Centre are:

• regular monitoring and reporting of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, and
• to be a reliable source of national information on osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and osteoporosis.

The Centre aims to contribute to reducing the health, social and economic burden of these diseases and conditions by:

• collating, analysing and disseminating national data
• identifying and addressing data gaps and deficiencies, and undertaking data development
• providing data for planning and policy development to improve prevention, early detection, management and treatment
• promoting and applying uniform statistical standards, methods and definitions
• studying the outcomes of various public health interventions and treatments, and
• monitoring disability, quality of life, mental health and other social and financial impacts associated with various musculoskeletal conditions.

Recent work

In September 2009, Health expenditure for arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, 2004-05 was released, providing the latest available expenditure estimates allocated to these diseases and comparing them with 2000-01 expenditure estimates.  The report discusses the impact on costs associated with the different management strategies employed for the various conditions.

Earlier in the year, we released A picture of rheumatoid arthritis in Australia, the third in the arthritis series of consumer booklets. This booklet informs the reader of recent rapid advances in drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and the importance of early diagnosis, allowing medication to be initiated as soon as possible.

Our flagship report Arthritis and osteoporosis in Australia 2008, incorporating information from a range of national data sources was released in December 2008. This report presents some new information along with updating data from the 2005 report on arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.

These works are all part of the arthritis publication series.

The Centre has also presented some of its ongoing work at the National Federation of Parents, Families and Carers, the Australian Population Health Congress, and at the Bone and Joint Decade Patient Advocates Meeting, among others.

Work in progress

Work currently in progress and due for release soon includes a report about informal carers of people with arthritis and osteoporosis and medication use for arthritis and osteoporosis. Other topics underway include disparities in health care for people with arthritis and osteoporosis and work on the relationship between mental health and musculoskeletal conditions.

In addition, the Centre is undertaking data analysis for:

• Snapshots of people with arthritis and osteoporosis
• The incidence and impacts of hip fractures in Australia
• The use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis
• The use of bisphosphonates for osteoporosis
• Total joint replacements in people with arthritis

The Centre is also participating in collaborative ventures with researchers in Australian universities on some of these topics.

Arthritis and osteoporosis indicators

National indicators for monitoring the health impact of arthritis and osteoporosis have been developed and are available at the Chronic Disease Indicators Database. The development of these indicators is discussed in the publication, National indicators for monitoring osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. The indicators have been reported against in the recent publication, Arthritis and osteoporosis in Australia 2008.

Arthritis Data Working Group/Steering Committee

The Centre is supported in its work by a Steering Committee, which provides expert advice and input to the Centre's activities. The Committee, chaired by Professor Nicholas Bellamy, consists of academics, clinicians, government officers, and patient and carer representatives.

Contact the Centre

Ph: 02 62441000

Email: