Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of tibiofemoral radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in people aged 35-54 years associated with chronic (> 3 months) knee pain using two different radiographic grading systems. METHODS: Population based postal survey in a random sample of inhabitants in a district in southern Sweden followed by clinical examination and plain posteroanterior, weight bearing radiographical examination. The Ahlbäck criteria (focusing on joint space narrowing) and the Kellgren & Lawrence classification for knee OA were used for diagnosing tibiofemoral OA. RESULTS: A questionnaire was sent to 2000 randomly selected people aged 35-54 years. The response rate was 92.6%. Fifteen per cent of these people reported chronic knee pain. This group (n = 279) was offered a clinical and radiographic examination of the knee joint and 204 persons agreed to participate. According to the Kellgren & Lawrence classification 28 subjects had OA of the knee grade 2 or more and 16 grade 3 or more. Radiographically detected OA of the knee according to Ahlbäck was found in 20 cases. The minimum prevalence of radiological tibiofemoral knee OA with knee pain was thus 1.5% for Kellgren & Lawrence grade 2 or more, 0.9% for grade 3 or more, and 1.1% according to the Ahlbäck classification. The agreement between the Kellgren & Lawrence grades 2-3 versus Ahlbäck grade I as well as grade 3-4 versus Ahlbäck grade I-II was good (kappa 0.76 and 0.78 respectively). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of radiographic tibiofemoral OA combined with chronic knee pain in people aged 35-54 years was around 1% as estimated by either the Kellgren & Lawrence or the Ahlbäck classifications systems. Prospective follow up of this cohort should elucidate the significance of knee pain as a sign of developing OA.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/ard.56.8.493

Type

Journal article

Journal

Ann rheum dis

Publication Date

08/1997

Volume

56

Pages

493 - 496

Keywords

Adult, Chronic Disease, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Knee Joint, Male, Middle Aged, Osteoarthritis, Pain, Prevalence, Radiography, Statistics, Nonparametric