title: Joint laxity and hypermobility in adults at an industrial area of Karachi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency of joint laxity and hypermobility in adults at Industrial area of Karachi.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Department of Medicine, Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Karachi, from September to December 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults between the ages of 14-60 years presenting in the consultant OPD for different medical conditions were included and examined for joint laxity and hypermobility according to Beighton's score. A structured proforma was designed to record all information. Chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance between two categorical variables. P-value of < 0.05 was considered as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1000 adults, 717 (71.7%) were males and 283 (28.3%) were females. Seventy (7%) adults had joint hypermobility including 48 (68.57%) males and 22 (31.43%) females. A total of 54 (77.1%) patients were found to have joint laxity; this included 75.9% males and 24.1% females, while 16 (22.9%) cases were having joint hypermobility including 43.7% males and 52.3% females. The Beighton score found higher in females than in males (p < 0.04). Family history of joint hypermobility was positive in 28 (40%) of the affected individuals. Individuals aged younger than 26 years scored higher than those aged above.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Joint laxity and hypermobility was not an uncommon rheumatological entity in the study group. It was significantly greater in females in terms of Beighton's score.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jinnah Medical and Dental College Hospital, Karachi. mishaqghauri@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishaq
authors.forename: Ishaq
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Ajeet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Sudham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult