5th Osteoarthritis World Congress 2021

The 5th Osteoarthritis World Congress was held on October 14th and 15th, 2021 at the AXA Auditorium in Barcelona. The city of Barcelona once again became the World Capital of Osteoarthritis, hosting this congress dedicated to patients with osteoarthritis and other joint diseases with the aim of informing, educating and providing support to people affected by this widespread and, at the same time, underestimated illness. Organized by OAFI Foundation and under the slogan “Together we face the pain”, 31 presentations were given by top-level professionals, such as Professor Santiago Niño-Becerra, Dr. Eduard Estivill, Dr. Sol Ruiz, Olympic medalist Jesús García Bragado, the Venerable Thubten Wangchen and many more.

If you were unable to attend the congress or want to watch some of the presentations again, don’t worry: we welcome you to the online congress! From November 2nd to 5th, all the unabridged lectures that took place during the 5th OAFI International Congress of Osteoarthritis Patients were broadcasted through our YouTube channel.

Find out all about osteoarthritis below!

1. Opening session: The Osteoarthritis Tsunami

Conductor: Sr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Dr. Josep Vergés, President and CEO of the OAFI Foundation.

• H.E. Ms. Carolina Darias, Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality, Spain

• Ms. Meritxell Budó, Secretary of Health Care and Participation of the Generalitat de Catalunya

2. European Medicines Agency (EMA): New Recommendations

Conductor: Sr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Moderator: Dr. Josep Vergés, President&CEO, OAFI Foundation 

Speaker:

• Ms. Nathalie Bere, European Medicines Agency (EMA)

3. How do our politicians help osteoarthritis patients?

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Moderator: Dr. Josep Vergés, President and CEO of the OAFI Foundation 

Speakers:

• H.E. Maria Teresa Rivero, Senator of Spain

• H.E. Mr. Antonio Román, Senator of Spain

4. New osteoarthritis treatment: chitosan derivative

Conductor: Sr. Ricardo Aparicio, health journalist

Moderator: Dr. Josep Vergés, President&CEO, OAFI Foundation 

Speaker:

• Dr. Mathias Schifflers, Chief Medical & Compliance Officer KiOmed Pharma

5. Our R&D projects – OAFI

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Ms. Aina Pascual, Science, Research & Innovation of OAFI Foundation

6. How to guarantee a high sports performance in the long term while avoiding injuries?

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Moderator: Ms. Clàudia Huertas, biologist and former top-level athlete

Speakers:

• Dr. José María Villalón, Head of Medical Services of Atlético de Madrid.

• Jesús García Bragado, Elite Athlete and Olympic medalist in Race Walking

7. Tai Chi for all ages

Professors:

• Ms. Conxita Hernández

• Ms. Montse Serlavós

• Mr. Marc Ricart

8. Physical activity, our medicine

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Ms. María José Rivas, physiotherapist, Mad’Or

9. Osteoporosis: the importance of therapeutic compliance – Presentation of the ODPAR Study

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Ms. Carmen Sanchez, Treasurer of the Spanish Association with Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (AECOSAR)

• Dr. Santiago Palacios, Gynecologist, Director of the Palacios Institute, Women’s Health and Medicine, President of FHOEMO

10. How to deal with insomnia when you have joint pain?

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Dr. Eduard Estivill, Estivill Sleep Clinic

• Mrs. Antonia Zambrano, OAFI’s patient

11. Osteoarthritis in the aging society: socioeconomic and health effects

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Dr. Julio Sánchez Fierro, Lawyer and Doctor in Health Sciences

12. Osteoarthritis and Quality of Life in Spain – CAVIPA Study

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Dr. Manel Santiñà, Past President of the Spanish Society for Quality of Care (SECA)

13. Arthrosis and comorbidities

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Prof. Francisco de Abajo, Professor of Pharmacology, University of Alacalá de Henares

14. Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular protection

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Moderator: Mr. Jesús Gómez, Community Pharmacist, Past President of the SEFAC Foundation

Speaker:

• Dr. Laura Arranz, PhD in nutrition, pharmacist and dietician-nutritionist specialized in chronic pain, overweight and food intolerances

15. How to fill yourself with positive energy

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Venerable Thubten Wangchen, Buddhist monk, Founder of the Tibet House of Barcelona

16. The patient’s voice

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, health journalist

Moderator: Mrs. Maria Teresa Vergés, Director of the Patients’ Area of the OAFI Foundation

Speakers:

• Mr. Jesús Quiñones, OAFI patient

• Mrs. Rosa Mª Ripoll, OAFI patient

• Mrs. Montse Mechó, OAFI patient

• Mrs. Mª Teresa Font, OAFI patient

• Mrs. Silvia Sánchez, OAFI patient

• Mrs. Pilar Gregorio, OAFI patient

17. Preventomics: personalized nutrition

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Mr. Josep Maria del Bas, Head of Nutrition and Health at EURECAT.

• Ms. Alba Gómez, Head of Communication and Audiovisuals at the OAFI Foundation

18. Patient responsibility in the post-COVID era

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Prof. Santiago Niño-Becerra, Professor of Economic Structure, Universitat Ramón Llull

19. Treatment of breakthrough pain in patients with chronic pain

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Prof. Antonio García, President of the Teófilo Hernando Institute

20. Our cells as a medicine

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Dr. Sol Ruiz, Head of the Division of Biological Products, Advanced Therapies and Biotechnology of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS)

21. Bioptimized turmeric, how does it work and why?

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Ms. María José Rivas, Physiotherapist, Mad’Or

• Ms. Gemma Serradell, OAFI’s patient

22. What is Vitamin D useful for?

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Dr. Daniel Martínez Laguna, specialist in Family and Community Medicine, CAP de Sant Martí de Provençals

• Mrs. Carmen Sánchez, treasurer of the Spanish Association for Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis (AECOSAR)

23. Joint Challenge 2021, patient challenges in managing musculoskeletal pain

Speaker:

• Dr. Josep Vergés, President & CEO of OAFI Foundation

24. Housing at our service: Space Program

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Prof. Queralt Garriga, architect and researcher, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

25. The use of cannabinoids in pain relief

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Dr. Carlos Goicoechea, Professor of Pharmacology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid

26. Infiltrations and ultrasound

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Dr. Ingrid Möller, Director of the Poal Institute of Rheumatology

• Mrs. Marisa Ybarra, OAFI patient

27. SPMs in osteoarthritis: resolution of inflammation with natural anti-inflammatory drugs

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Mr. Gustavo Higuera, PhD in Tissue Engineering and Project Manager at Azur Global Nutrition

28. Pulsed electromagnetic fields for the treatment of osteoarthritis

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Dr. David López Capapé, Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Traumatologist, CEMTRO Clinic, and Medical Director of the Biclinic Clinic (Madrid)

29. Legal aspects in the elderly

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speaker:

• Mr. Alfons Catena, Executive Director of SENIOR IURIS Abogados

30. Closing: the tree of life – OAFI specials

Conductor: Mr. Ricardo Aparicio, Health Journalist

Speakers:

• Ms. Cristina Nova, Head of Communication and Audiovisuals of the OAFI Foundation

• Mrs. Maria Teresa Vergés, Director of the Patients’ Area of the OAFI Foundation

• Dr. Josep Vergés, President and CEO of the OAFI Foundation