Background: Among the chronic rheumatic diseases, hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent and is a leading cause of pain and disability in most countries worldwide. It’s prevalence increases with age and generally affects women more frequently than men. OA is strongly associated with aging and heavy physical occupational activity, a required livelihood for many people living in rural communities in developing countries. Determining region-specific OA prevalence and risk factor profiles will provide important information for planning future cost effective preventive strategies and health care services.
Materials and Methods: The primary data was collected from the subjects/patients consulting SDM Hospital, Dharwad. A cross-sectional research design was used for this study.30 participants have been selected for this study purpose. Kellgren and Lawrence Scale of Knee Osteoarthritis was used to collect data.
Results: The results of this study show that most of the aged people in Karnataka suffer from knee osteoarthritis as it is a degenerative disorder and is more commonly seen in obese and more in women who go through menopause often gain weight and the increased stress on the joints may rise in osteoarthritis seen among women after age 55.
Discussion: This degenerative disorder seems to be increasing day by day as it is seen aged, young adults above 45 years of age and in women due to menopausal contradictory results. In this study Grade 2 OA is the highest in number due to more bone spur growth and though the space between the bones appear normal and when the patient’s starts experiencing joint pain, the area around the knee joint becomes stiff and uncomfortable, particularly when sitting for an extended period. The various risk factors are repetitive movement of joints, obesity, infection and heavy weight lifting.
Conclusion: After going through the results it is concluded that the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis is increasing as they get aged and common in women as they go under menopausal issues and the stress on joints which rises in osteoarthritis disorder.
