Women age 50 and older may have an increased chance of persistent, incident or intermittent knee pain, according to a study from researchers at the University of Oxford in England.
“Our study is the first community-based investigation of knee pain patterns using multiple assessment points over a 12-year period,” Nigel Arden, MSc, MD, the study’s lead author, said in a news release. “Understanding the prevalence and predictors of knee pain is the first step in developing comprehensive assessment plans that could lead to more targeted treatment options for those burdened by OA.”
The researchers studied a cohort of patients from the Chingford Study, a 12-year prospective study of 489 women between the ages of 44 years and 57 years with osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis. The women were from a general population of a demographic representative of the UK population in weight, height and smoking habits. The participants of the Chingford study were classified into four pain groups: asymptomatic, persistent, incident and intermittent.
The investigators found 63% of women had persistent, incident or intermittent knee pain. They found a higher BMI among patients with persistent or incident pain. Radiographic osteoarthritis predicted persistent pain. Those with knee injuries had either persistent or intermittent pain patterns.
“Validation of our findings through reproduction in other patient groups is needed to advance knowledge of knee pain predictors that will ultimately enhance prevention and treatment strategies for those with OA,” Arden stated in the release.
For more information:
Soni A, Kiran A, Hart D, et al. Self-reported knee pain prevalence in a community-based cohort over 12 years. Arth Rheum. 2011. doi: 10.1002/art.33434.
