The prevalence of osteoarthrosis in a rural African community

Abstract

Osteoarthrosis occurs in all population groups throughout the world. However, the pattern of the condition may differ considerably amongst various developing, traditionally living people, perhaps because of their different living habits, occupational factors and genetics. The distribution and prevalence of osteoarthrosis in a developing African population are reported in this paper. A radiological survey of the hands and feet of 543 adult respondents was undertaken. The prevalence of multiple osteoarthrosis and Heberden's nodes was very low. There was a sharp rise in the prevalence of osteoarthrosis after the age of 40 years. The prevalence in males and females was very similar; a finding which agrees with previous African studies but is in contrast to Caucasian surveys. We also found more distal interphalangeal involvement in males than in females. The incidence of proximal interphalangeal involvement was very similar to that reported in other published studies.