Data on Women Suffering From Arthralgia and Monitoring Trend from 2013 and 2023

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2544
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 07 FEBRUARY 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song
MP for Aljunied GRC

Question No. 5469

To ask the Minister for Health (a) how many women in Singapore suffer from some form of arthralgia (joint pain) currently; (b) how many women suffered from this condition in 2013 as compared to the number in 2023; (c) whether the Ministry will raise awareness of arthralgia as a symptom of menopause; and (d) whether the Ministry has programmes for the early detection and treatment of arthralgia.

Answer

1     Joint pain, or arthralgia, is a symptom that can be associated with many conditions, such as infections (e.g. dengue), injury, gout and menopause. The Ministry does not track the number of women in Singapore suffering from joint pain.

2     KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) and National University Hospital (NUH) have been involved in media outreach efforts to raise awareness of menopause and its associated symptoms, including arthralgia.

3     The Ministry will await data from future studies to better inform our model of care for menopausal women, such as an upcoming clinical study by the Integrated Women's Health Program to explore whether curated exercises and estrogen therapy can alleviate the symptoms of menopausal arthralgia.