Osteoarthritis of the knee in the jordanian population

Abstract AR

Objectives .: To describe the pattern of primary osteoarthritis of the knee in Jordanians, including age, sex, and relation to obesity and to assess the severity of pain and extent of disability in these patients.

Methods: This is a prospective study involving 74 patients with primary osteoarthritis of the knee, who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the classification and reporting of osteoarthritis of the knee.

The patients were seen over the period between June 1999 and February 2000, in the Rheumatology and Internal Medicine Clinics at Prince Ali Hospital.

These patients were evaluated in relation to age, sex, body weight, bilaterality, and the severity of pain, which was assessed according to Hernborg and Nilsson criteria.

The effect of osteoarthritis on normal joint function and the extent of disability were assessed by a lopal modified classification used by other authors.

Results: The majority of patients (77.1%) were above 55 years of age.

Most (75.7%) were females in a ratio of 3.1: 1 (female:male), and 90.5% were overweight and obese.

Only four patients (males) had unilateral knee involvement.

Almost half of the patients achieved four or more scores out of five, on the Hernborg and Nilsson criteria for pain.

Most (86.5%) of the patients could walk outside unaided but with pain.

Half of the patients could do their ordinary daily activity but with difficulty.

Conclusion : The pattern of osteoarthritis of the knee in Jordanians is almost similar to that in other parts of the world.

There are, however, some differences including the earlier age of onset of the disease, the earlier peak age of prevalence and the variation in the female to male ratio.