title: Characteristics of primary care consultations for musculoskeletal foot and ankle problems in the UK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Foot and ankle problems are highly prevalent in the general population; however, little is known about the characteristics of those seeking medical assessment for these problems. The objective of this study was to explore the extent and types of musculoskeletal foot and ankle problems in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consultation data related to musculoskeletal foot and ankle problems in 2006 were extracted from the Consultations in Primary Care Archive (CiPCA), which covers consultations in 12 general practices in North Staffordshire. Data were cross-tabulated by age and gender, and annual consultation prevalence per 10,000 registered persons was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 55,033 musculoskeletal consultations documented in CiPCA in 2006, 4500 (8%) related to foot and ankle problems. The most commonly documented Read term was 'foot pain' (1281 consultations; 28%), followed by 'ankle pain' [451 (10%)]. Most consultations [3538 (79%)] involved non-traumatic conditions. Females accounted for slightly more consultations than males (55 vs 45%), and the highest proportion of consultations involved people aged 45-64 years (36%). The number of consultations per patient ranged from 1 to 11. Annual consultation prevalence was 290 per 10,000 registered persons and increased with age, reaching a peak in the 65- to 74-year age group (411 per 10,000 registered persons).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Foot and ankle problems account for a substantial number of consultations in primary care, and most frequently involve non-traumatic conditions. Further research is required to evaluate the factors that influence consultation for foot problems and strategies that general practitioners use to manage these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Centre, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK. h.menz@latrobe.edu.au
authors.forename: Hylton B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Menz
authors.forename: Kelvin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roddy
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Croft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012775:Shoes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Mar 1;159(5):491-8
references.pmid: 14977645
references.citation: Fam Pract. 2001 Dec;18(6):569-73
references.pmid: 11739338
references.citation: Mycoses. 2003 Dec;46(11-12):496-505
references.pmid: 14641624
references.citation: Age Ageing. 1997 Mar;26(2):107-14
references.pmid: 9177667
references.citation: Foot Ankle Int. 2008 Mar;29(3):298-304
references.pmid: 18348826
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 1998 Oct 1;148(7):657-65
references.pmid: 9778172
references.citation: Br J Gen Pract. 2007 Jan;57(534):7-14
references.pmid: 17244418
references.citation: Scand J Prim Health Care. 2001 Sep;19(3):191-3
references.pmid: 11697564
references.citation: Osteoporos Int. 2004 Dec;15(12):957-63
references.pmid: 15118813
references.citation: Gerontology. 2005 Sep-Oct;51(5):346-51
references.pmid: 16110238
references.citation: Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006 Jul;45(7):863-7
references.pmid: 16449369
references.citation: Fam Pract. 2007 Oct;24(5):443-53
references.pmid: 17675657
references.citation: Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Jun;65(6):809-15
references.pmid: 16269430
references.citation: Foot Ankle Int. 1994 Feb;15(2):72-4
references.pmid: 7981804
references.citation: J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1995 May;85(5):293-4
references.pmid: 7776224
references.citation: Disabil Rehabil. 2005 Aug 19;27(16):917-23
references.pmid: 16096244
references.citation: BMJ. 1997 Oct 25;315(7115):1054-5
references.pmid: 9366731
references.citation: J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2000 Sep;90(8):397-402
references.pmid: 11021051
references.citation: Fam Pract. 2009 Jun;26(3):174-9
references.pmid: 19270034
references.citation: Clin Rheumatol. 2009 Feb;28(2):139-43
references.pmid: 18766425
references.citation: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005 Dec;60(12):1546-52
references.pmid: 16424286
references.citation: J Foot Ankle Res. 2008 Aug 19;1(1):8
references.pmid: 18822163
references.citation: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006 Aug;61(8):866-70
references.pmid: 16912106
references.citation: Pain. 2004 Jul;110(1-2):378-84
references.pmid: 15275789
references.citation: J Foot Ankle Res. 2008 Jul 28;1(1):2
references.pmid: 18822153
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 1995 May;43(5):479-84
references.pmid: 7730527
references.citation: J Foot Ankle Res. 2008 Sep 15;1(1):10
references.pmid: 18822169
references.citation: Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006 Feb;45(2):126-8
references.pmid: 16368726
references.citation: Br J Gen Pract. 2006 Apr;56(525):269-76
references.pmid: 16611515
references.citation: J Rheumatol. 2003 Dec;30(12):2689-93
references.pmid: 14719214
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Oct 15;55(5):757-64
references.pmid: 17013823
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Jun 15;59(6):857-62
references.pmid: 18512715
references.citation: J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1993 Aug;83(8):475-83
references.pmid: 8366438
references.citation: J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2004 Jan-Feb;11(1):78-86
references.pmid: 14527973