Chondroitin sulfate in osteoarthritis treatment in patients with comorbid cardiovascular diseases: hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease globally, and its incidence increases with age – up to 80–90% in people over 60 years. There is a high comorbidity between OA and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as arterial hypertension (AH), atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease (CHD). The main objectives of OA therapy include pain reduction, cartilage matrix preservation, safe profile in patients with comorbid diseases, minimal adverse effects. In addition, the drug should be comparable in analgesic effects with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Such drugs include structural-modifying agents – symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA), one of which is chondroitin sulfate (CS). According to the 2019–2020 International and Russian guidelines, only pharmaceutical-grade CS is recommended for use. The high efficacy of intramuscular administration of CS in patients with OA, lower back pain, and comorbid diseases (AH, CHD, atherosclerosis) has been proven. CS is prescribed for a long treatment course – up to two months.