Risk Factors of Knee Osteoarthritis in Patients attending Rheumatology Clinic in Mosul

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis can be described as the last common pathway of processes that leads to joint failure. This illness also has a significant social and economic impact on all civilizations, and has become a growing burden on health-care systems in usually healthy economies with an aging population.

Methods: A case-control study design conducted from the 1^st, November 2020 to the 31^st, May 2021 in Ibn-Sena and Al-Salam Teaching Hospitals in Mosul, Iraq. A total of 100 individuals diagnosed with knee Osteoarthritis represented the cases of this study, and another 100 individuals free from knee Osteoarthritis were recruited as controls.

Objectives:  the aim of current study was to measure the frequency of cases related to each assumed risk factor of knee Osteoarthritis among the study sample and to assess the causes of knee Osteoarthritis.

Results: The majority of cases and controls (72 % and 53 %, respectively) were between 45 and 64 years. Also, females represented 76% of cases and 57% of controls. It was found that 74% of cases and 81% of controls lived in city. Married people made up 93% of cases and 79% of controls. The manual workers made up 82% of cases and 27% of controls. Also, there was no link between smoking, systemic illnesses and knee osteoarthritis. Females over 45 years accounted for 65% of cases and 31% of controls. Overweight and obese people were twice as likely as the control group to develop knee Osteoarthritis. Trauma in the past had strong link with the development of knee Osteoarthritis. Also, only over half of the patients (51) had a positive family history of Osteoarthritis, whereas only 17% of the controls had a positive family history of Osteoarthritis.

Conclusion: Osteoarthritis occurs more frequently among old married females. Overweight and obesity found to be a risk factor for Osteoarthritis. Also, manual labor increases the chances of developing Osteoarthritis. Athletes are also less likely to develop Osteoarthritis. Trauma and Family history of Osteoarthritis Increase the risk of Osteoarthritis.