[Prevalence and risk factors in osteoarthritis]

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions; it is a leading cause of disability in older adults and generates high costs. Incidence and prevalence of the disease varies according to the definition used. Diagnosis is established according to clinical or radiological, and ideally according to both. Joints most frequently affected are hands, knees and hip, although population distribution varies depending on the population studied. We review the prevalence of these three groups of osteoarthritis in the five continents, and we discuss the risk factors most frequently associated to each one.