Prevalence, pattern and determinants of radiographic hand osteoarthritis in Turkmen community-based sample

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of radiographic hand osteoarthritis (OA) in Turkmen community-based sample and its association with age, sex, and BMI. The study population was comprised of Turkmens (277 males and 427 females, age 19–90 years). OA was evaluated for 14 joints of each hand according to the Kellgren and Lawrence grading scheme. Statistical analyses included prevalence estimation, linear and polynomial regressions, and χ 2 tests. About 13.8% of individuals before age 36 had at least one joint with OA, and the prevalence reached 100% after age 65. For males and females the best-fitted and most parsimonious model of association between age and number of affected hand joints was a two interval linear one. After adjustment for age, we found that females with severe obesity have higher risk of development of hand OA than those with normal weight [OR(95%CI): 3.88 (1.20–12.60)].