Relationship between osteoarthritis of knee and menopause.
OBJECTIVE
To study the difference in the onset of osteoarthritis (OA) between males and females with respect to age and to note the relationship between OA of the knees and menopause and hysterectomy in females.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive patients (50 males and 50 females) were studied for the onset of OA and compared for the statistical difference. In females the relationship between onset of OA and menopause and hysterectomy, if done, was noted.


RESULTS
Fifty eight percent of females had onset of symptoms of OA of knees before 50 years of age as compared to only 20% in males (p < 0.05). Sixty four percent of females with OA of knees had the onset of symptoms either perimenopausally or within five years of natural menopause or hysterectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a definite early peaking of the incidence of OA of knees in women in the fifth decade of life as compared to males. There is an association between OA of knees and menopause and we suggest correlating it with the levels of sex hormones.
Rheumatology Clinic, TN Medical College and BYL Nair, Ch. Hospital, Dr. AL Nair Road, Mumbai Central, Mumbai-400 008.
M Y
MY
Nadkar
R S
RS
Samant
S S
SS
Vaidya
N E
NE
Borges
D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors