Risk factors of knee osteoarthritis in Bangladeshi adults: a national survey

Knee osteoarthritis was reported as the second most prevalent condition in the national musculoskeletal survey. The purpose of this extended study was to identify risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in Bangladeshi adults.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban areas of Bangladesh using stratified multistage cluster sample of 2000 adults aged 18 years or older recruited at their households. The Modified Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Disorders (COPCORD) questionnaire was used to collect data. The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis was made using the decision tree clinical categorization criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to identify the risk factors for knee osteoarthritis.

A total of 1843 individuals (892 men and 951 women) participated, and 134 had knee osteoarthritis yielding a prevalence of 7.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.9 to 9.6%). The mean (standard deviation) age of the knee osteoarthritis patients was 51.7 (11.2) years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found a significant association with increasing age (≥38 years OR 8.9, 95% CI 4.8-16.5; ≥58 years OR 13.9, 95% CI 6.9-28.0), low educational level (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-2.7) and overweight (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.9) with knee osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis patients had a high likelihood of having work loss preceding 12 months (age and sex-adjusted OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.4-3.8; P < 0.01).

Knee osteoarthritis is a commonly prevalent musculoskeletal problem among Bangladeshi adults having link to work loss. Increasing age, low education and overweight are significant risk factors of knee osteoarthritis.