Abstract

EMERGING BIOMARKERS IN OSTEOARTHRITIS: CURRENT INSIGHTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Ravindra Choudhary*, Dr. R. S. Tomar

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is not only a leading cause of disability but also a complex, multifactorial condition influenced by mechanical, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways. In addition to the 528 million cases reported in 2019, recent projections indicate that by 2050 over 700 million people may be living with OA globally. This makes OA a pressing global health challenge, particularly in low- and middleincome countries where early detection and treatment infrastructure remain underdeveloped. The economic burden also extends beyond direct medical costs to include lost productivity, caregiver burden, and societal impacts. Biomarkers offer the opportunity to fundamentally shift OA management from late-stage symptomatic care to proactive and personalized interventions. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative joint disease worldwide, affecting an estimated 528 million people in 2019 and projected to rise by 2050 with aging populations and obesity epidemics. The disease accounts for 2–3% of global disabilityadjusted life years (DALYs) and imposes an economic burden equivalent to 1–2.5% of GDP in high-income countries. Current diagnostic approaches, including clinical assessment and radiography, lack sensitivity for early detection and have limited ability to predict disease progression. Biomarkers represent a critical opportunity to fill this gap. They can be classified into biochemical, imaging, genetic/epigenetic, and omics-derived categories. This review provides a comprehensive overview of established and emerging OA biomarkers, their clinical utility, challenges in validation, and future directions, including multi-biomarker panels and AI-driven integrative approaches to advance personalized medicine in OA.

Keywords: .