How common is primary Osteoarthritis
Epidemiologic features of primary OA
- • More common in men than in women aged <45 years; more common in women than men aged >45 years.
- • Association with increased age.
- • OA seen in an estimated 20% to 30% of the adult population.
- • Symptomatic knee OA in 7% to 17%: hip OA in 10% of those aged >45 years.
- • Radiographic knee OA in 14% to 37%; hip OA in 10%; hand OA in 35% to 45%.
Pearl : Radiographic OA is at least twice more common than symptomatic OA. Therefore, changes in OA on radiographs do not prove that OA is the cause of that patient’s musculoskeletal pain.