title: Symptom onset, diagnosis and management of osteoarthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The time between symptom onset and physician diagnosis is a period when people with osteoarthritis can make lifestyle changes to reduce pain, improve function and delay disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study analyses data for a nationally representative sample of 4,565 Canadians aged 20 or older who responded to the Arthritis component of the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada. Descriptive statistics are used to report the prevalence of hip and knee osteoarthritis; the mean age of symptom onset and diagnosis; medication use; and contacts with health professionals during the previous year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among people with a physician diagnosis of arthritis, 37% reported osteoarthritis. Of these, 70% experienced pain in the hip(s), knee(s), or hip(s) and knee(s). Close to half (48%) of these people experienced symptoms the same year that they were diagnosed; 42% experienced symptoms at least a year before the diagnosis; and 10% experienced symptoms after the diagnosis. Among those who had symptoms before diagnosis, the average time between symptom onset and diagnosis was 7.7 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with osteoarthritis may experience symptoms for several years before they obtain a physician diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: Karen V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanmartin
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Kellie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015995:Prevalence; D061665:Time-to-Treatment
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Arthritis; disease progression; non-prescription drugs; occupational therapy; patient education; physical therapy; prescription drugs