Epidemiology and genetics of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common of the arthropathies. Previous population-based epidemiologic studies have estimated the prevalence of osteoarthritis by age, gender, race, and site in many populations. Cross-sectional and retrospective data from these prevalence surveys have been analyzed to identify possible risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis at specific sites. Data from prospective population-based epidemiologic studies including the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study, the Tecumseh Community Health Study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I Epidemiologic Followup Study, and the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging are being analyzed to estimate the incidence of osteoarthritis by age, gender, and site, and the prognosis of subjects with osteoarthritis at specific sites in terms of morbidity and mortality, as well as to confirm the association of risk factors with the development and progression of osteoarthritis by site. Additionally, the application of techniques of molecular biology to the study of the genetics of familial osteoarthritis has identified hereditary defects in type II collagen that appear to predispose to the early development of osteoarthritis in affected family members. Results of these studies highlight opportunities for the primary and secondary prevention of osteoarthritis.