Osteoarthritis occurs throughout the world and in all population groups. Osteoarthritis is equally common in men and women, but women tend to develop symptoms earlier. It is estimated that 70% to 90% of people older than age 75 are affected by osteoarthritis.1 They either have symptoms of osteoarthritis or have evidence of osteoarthritis on an X-ray.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and a major reason people become disabled and dependent on others as they get older.2
- In the general population, many people have osteoarthritis that is evident on X-rays, although not all of these people have symptoms. As seen on X-rays:
- 30% have osteoarthritis in the hands.
- 21% have osteoarthritis in the feet.
- 3% have osteoarthritis in the knees and hips.
- Of people older than 60, 17% of men and 30% of women have symptoms of osteoarthritis.
- Of people older than 65:
- Almost all people have osteoarthritis in the hands.
- 33% have osteoarthritis in the knee.
Although age itself is not a cause of osteoarthritis, the chances of getting it increase significantly as people get older. Up to 33% of people in the United States older than 18 report symptoms of arthritis or chronic joint pain.3
References
Citations
Hinton R, et al. (2002). Osteoarthritis: Diagnosis and therapeutic considerations. American Family Physician, 65(5): 841–848.
Wise C (2005). Osteoarthritis. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., ACP Medicine, section 15, chap. 10. New York: WebMD.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2002). Prevalence of self-reported arthritis or chronic joint symptoms among adults—United States, 2001. MMWR, 51(42): 948–950.
Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology |
| Last Updated | April 20, 2007 |
