title: Epidemiological aspects of osteoarthritis.
abstract: An epidemiological approach can shed some light on several aspects of osteoarthritis (OA). OA is an ubiquitous condition, with an age-linked prevalence, rising slowly until the age of 50 and rapidly thereafter, especially in women. Its etiology is clearly multifactorial, the main factors being ageing, mechanical stress hereditary and/or constitutional factors, and inflammation. Structural and physical features of cartilage alter with age. These alterations are underlaid by biochemical changes. Mechanical stress is sometimes acute but most often long-standing. Familial or constitutional factors, or the possible triggering role of inflammation, are particularly well documented in certain subsets of OA. Finally, the possibility of an underlying metabolic disturbance remains a stimulating, though yet unproven, prospect.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Rheumatologie, Hôpital de la Pitié, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Peyron
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors