Prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis of the knee and its relationship to self-reported pain.
OBJECTIVE
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common skeletal disorders, yet little data are available in Asian populations. We sought to assess the prevalence and pattern of radiographic OA of the knee, and its relationship to self-reported pain in a Vietnamese population.


METHODS
The study was based on a sample of 170 men and 488 women aged ≥40 years who were randomly sampled from the Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). Radiographs of the knee were graded from 0 to 4 according to the Kellgren and Lawrence scale. Osteoarthritis was defined as being present in a knee if radiographic grades of 2 or higher were detected. Knee pain and symptoms were ascertained by direct interview using a structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
The point prevalence of radiographic OA of the knee was 34.2%, with women having higher rate than men (35.3% vs 31.2%). The prevalence of knee OA increased with advancing age: 8% among those aged 40-49 years, 30% in those aged 50-59 years, and 61.1% in those aged ≥60 years. Greater BMI was associated with higher risk of knee OA. Self-reported knee pain was found in 35% of men and 62% of women. There was a statistically significant association between self-reported knee pain and knee OA (prevalence ratio 3.1; 95% CI 2.0 to 4.6).


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that approximately a third of Vietnamese men and women have radiographic OA in the knee, and that self-reported knee pain may be used as an indicator of knee osteoarthritis.
Division of Bone and Muscle Research, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Department of Rheumatology, People's Hospital 115, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Lan T
LT
Ho-Pham
Department of Rheumatology, People's Hospital 115, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Thai Q
TQ
Lai
Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Linh D
LD
Mai
Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Minh C
MC
Doan
Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Hoa N
HN
Pham
Division of Bone and Muscle Research, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Osteoporosis and Bone Biology Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
Tuan V
TV
Nguyen
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam