Gender differences in osteoarthritis of knee: An Indian perspective

Abstract

Introduction: The global burden of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is on the rise with advancing age, as life expectancy is improving worldwide. The literature shows a higher prevalence and incidence of KOA in women. The gender differences are seen not only in the developing world but also in the developed world. KOA at advanced stage can be quite disabling affecting the individuals' functioning capacity. The available treatment modalities can improve the quality of life significantly. The aim of this review is to study the gender differences in epidemiological and clinical aspects of KOA in Indian population. Methods: The keywords “knee osteoarthritis, Gender, India,” “knee osteoarthritis, Sex, India,” and “knee osteoarthritis, Prevalence, India” are used for data search for retrieving data from Indian studies in MEDLINE and Google Scholar. The broad inclusion criteria were clinical and radiological diagnosis of KOA, inclusive of both men and women and excluded articles with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, and secondary causes of arthritis. Results: A total of 18 articles were found to fulfill the broad inclusive criteria. Majority of the articles were cross-sectional prevalence studies either done in a community setup or in tertiary care hospitals. The overall prevalence of KOA in these studies ranges from 27.1% to 66.1%, depending on the lower age limit of the study population. Postmenopausal women are affected more than premenopausal women. High body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis were the common comorbid conditions. Discussion & Conclusion: The gender difference in the incidence and prevalence is seen in several cross-sectional studies and case series in the Indian literature. However, there is a paucity of data on clinical presentation, progression of the diseases, disability scoring at various stages of the KOA, and management.

Comparison of Anterior-Posterior Axis Versus Transepicondylar Axis in Patients Undergoing Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: One Technique per Knee

“…We point out the study had 5 times as many females than males. This reflects the distribution ratio of osteoarthritis in India [27,28]. In theory, anthropometric relations including the landmarks used in this study, should not be greatly affected by sex, but we cannot definitively support this statement [29].…”

Gender differences in description of chronic musculoskeletal pain

“…18 Epidemiological studies from Indian population showed low back pain to be the most prevalent followed by knee pain. 19,20 The patients were asked to describe their pain in terms of quantity and quality. In the present study women reported a higher intensity of pain on NPRS and used more descriptors for their pain as compared to males.…”

Does stature of female affect Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score following knee arthroplasty surgery: an observational pilot study

“…The research interest in post-TKA is growing and the evaluation of postoperative outcomes on basis of normal versus short stature in women has never been studied for Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) with pain as main subsets for evaluating short-term outcome measures (Roos and Lohmander, 2003). Women were found to present higher with OA on radiographic imaging as compared to men (Sancheti et al, 2017, Thati 2021. The anatomy of knee joint is different in men and women.…”

“…Female patients are 2.6 times more prone for pain or stiffness following TKA surgery outcome at 1 year (Fisher et al, 2007). Women were found to have higher BMI and disability and also presented late for TKA surgery with advanced stages of OA as compared to men (Sancheti et al, 2017, Thati 2021.…”