Prevalence and pattern of osteoarthritis of the knee at National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of osteoarthritis of the knee and the risk factors associated with its development at National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu.

Design: Cross sectional descriptive study.

Setting: A regional orthopeadic centre in Nigeria

Subjects: Two thousand three hundred and ten adults aged 30 years and above.

Results: One hundred and fifty one patients were diagnosed as having symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee with a male to female ratio of 1:2.6. The prevalence of osteoarthritis increased with advancing age. It peaked at 70-79 years age group. The prevalence of osteoarthritis of the knee was noted to be higher in the female sex, house wives and farmers. The overall prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was 6.5%. Multiple risk factors played roles in the aetiology of osteoarthritis of the knee. The majority of the patients were obese. Obesity was noted in 49.7% of the patients while 24.5% of the patients reported having previous knee injuries. A positive family history of osteoarthritis of the knee was noted in 17.2% of the patients while it was noted to be idiopathic in 4.6% of the patients.

Conclusion: The prevalence of osteoarthritis of the knee at National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu is 6.5%. Prevalence was higher in the female sex, house wives and farmers. Obesity was the major risk factor while valgus knee was the commonest presentation.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis of the knee, prevalence, risk factors, Enugu.