Osteoarthritis Among Women in Bahrain

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

12 years ago

Osteoarthritis Among Women in Bahrain

– Reported, January 24, 2013

Chronic disease burdens on society are expected to rise in the future, alongside the increasing and aging population. Osteoarthritis (OA) is common among the elderly, with a global impact; ranks fourth among medical problems in women and risk factors associated with it are many. Risk factors such as age, sex, trauma, overuse, genetics, and obesity can each make contributions to the process of injury in different compartments of the joint.Co-morbid conditions and other enabling factors such as depression; low educational level; and poor socioeconomic status are component risks. The risk for osteoarthritis only becomes apparent at age 40 years and above. These risk factors contribute to the progressive nature of the disease which serves as targets of behavioral and pharmacologic interventions.

Persons who are overweight have a high prevalence of knee osteoarthritis. For many years, it was not clear whether being overweight preceded or was a consequence of osteoarthritis, given the immobility and disability the disease can produce. Recent studies have proved that being overweight antedates the development of the disease.

Non communicable diseases are on the rise, moving along the trend of epidemiological transition. Prevalence of chronic diseases among Arab women is increasing and mainly linked to obesity.7 Osteoarthritis is not only the most common multi-factorial non communicable disease, but also the most prevalent form of arthritis among women and the elderly, causing physical disability and impaired quality of life. Available treatment strategies are focused at reducing pain and improving joint function. This study was necessitated for a situational analysis – first in Bahrain – on osteoarthritis among women above the age of 40, and to explore an enhanced scope for health promotion on modifiable risk factors as a primary preventive strategy. Further, the students of public health program of the college of health sciences have learned the art of interviewing and realized the gravity of community survey.

Our results demonstrate and support previous study findings on the risk factors for osteoarthritis. Higher BMI, advancing age, sedentary life style, estrogen insufficiency, genetic predisposition and chronic morbidities were the risk factors uniquely identified by this study among Bahraini women above 40 years of age.

CREDITS:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
GV Asokan, Muna S. Hussain Abdullah Hussain, Eman JM Ali, Rajendra V. Awate, Zahra KA Khadem, and Zainab AM Al-Safwan

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