Epidemiology of osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the United States. Symptomatic knee OA occurs in 10% men and 13% in women aged 60 years or older. The number of people affected with symptomatic OA is likely to increase due to the aging of the population and the obesity epidemic. OA has a multifactorial etiology, and can be considered the product of an interplay between systemic and local factors. Old age, female gender, overweight and obesity, knee injury, repetitive use of joints, bone density, muscle weakness, and joint laxity all play roles in the development of joint OA, particularly in the weight-bearing joints. Modifying these factors may reduce the risk of OA and prevent subsequent pain and disability.

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Figures

Figure 1

Incidence of OA of the hand, hip, and knee in members of the Fallon Community Health Plan, 1991-1992, by age and sex (From Oliveria SA, Felson DT, Reed JI, et al. Incidence of symptomatic hand, hip, and knee osteoarthritis among patients in a health maintenance organization. Arthritis Rheum 1995;38:1139; with permission.)

Figure 2

Pathogenesis of OA with Putative Risk Factors (Reprinted with permission from Felson DT, et al. Osteoarthritis: New Insights. Part 1: The disease and Its Risk Factors. Ann Intern Med. 2000; 133:635-646. with permission.)