Risk factors for progression of knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is by far the most prevalent joint disorder, and it is strongly associated with ageing. The knee, the principal large joint to be targeted by OA, results in disabling knee symptoms in an estimated 10% of the UK population older than 55, a quarter of whom are severely disabled.

The risk of disability attributable to knee OA alone is as great as that due to cardiac disease and greater than that due to any other medical disorder in the elderly.

Improved understanding and management of knee OA is therefore clearly desirable, especially with the ageing of the population.