Knee Pain and Its Severity in Elderly Koreans: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Impact on Quality of Life

Abstract

This study investigated the epidemiology (prevalence, risk factors, and impact on quality of life) of knee pain and its severity in elderly Koreans. The subjects (n=3,054) were participants aged ≥50 yr from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted in 2010. Knee pain was defined as pain in the knee lasting ≥30 days during the most recent 3 months; severity was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. EQ-5D was used to measure quality of life. The prevalence of knee pain was 23.1% (11.7% in men, 31.9% in women). The prevalences of mild, moderate, and severe knee pain were 4.3%, 9.1%, and 9.7%, respectively (2.8%, 5.4%, and 3.5% in men and 5.4%, 12.0%, and 14.4% in women). Old age, female gender, a low level of education, a manual occupation, obesity, and radiographic osteoarthritis were risk factors for knee pain, and were associated with increased severity of knee pain. Excluding men with mild knee pain, people with knee pain had significantly lower quality of life than those without knee pain. Early interventional approaches are needed to reduce the medical, social, and economic burden of knee pain in elderly Koreans.

Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Subjects With Frequent Bilateral or Unilateral Knee Pain: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative Study

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Influence of the type of occupation on osteoarthritis of the knee in men: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012

“…Knee pain was evaluated as present if participants answered “Yes” to the question, “Have you ever experienced knee pain for more than 30 days during the last 3 months?” Participants who had knee pain reported the severity of pain on a numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 to 10. The severity of knee pain was subdivided into four levels, according to previous studies: 0 = no pain, 1‐3 = mild, 4‐6 = moderate, and 7‐10 = severe. Moderate to severe knee pain was defined as an intensity of knee pain ≥4.…”

Vitamin D and the characteristics associated with risk for knee pain among Korean older adults: Findings from a nationally representative survey

“…Jhun et al . reported from their research, in which data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used, that in the past 3 months, 23.1% of Koreans aged 50 years and older (11.7% men, 31.9% women) experienced knee pain for over 30 days, and that the prevalence rate and severity of such knee pain increased along with an increase in age . In the USA, the results of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reportedly showed a 21.2% (18.1% men, 23.4% women) prevalence rate of knee pain in older adults aged 60 years and older .…”

“…Thus, knee pain is a musculoskeletal problem commonly experienced by older adults that has become a direct and indirect burden to society . It also limits functional and daily activities for sufferers, thus decreasing their quality of life …”